Overview
The Caker is one of Auckland's iconic bakeries, and a Karangahape Road favourite. But after ten years in the bricks-and-mortar business, it's saying farewell to its IRL base. Thankfully, while that's sad news for your tastebuds, it doesn't mean the end for the luxury cake brand.
Jordan Rondel, founder and The Caker herself, made the announcement via Instagram on Friday, August 4.
"The time has come to announce that one of the facets of my brand, my Auckland bakery, is closing its doors after ten years to make way for me and The Caker to grow in other ways," Rondel wrote.
Rondel reflected on what The Caker bakery meant to her, deeming it "the foundation for building what The Caker is today".
"[It is] a brand and a community that extends two continents, and is in the homes of thousands upon thousands of cake lovers," she said.
The Caker was born in the form of a blog back in 2010, when the then 21-year-old Rondel wanted to sell a few cakes. Since then, it has also expanded into the American market after Rondel made the move to Los Angeles in 2019.
Rondel called the store her "home base" for all her creative cake endeavours thus far — from her cake kits to her recipe books, and also as the space where she developed her own identity as the grungy, fashionable, unapologetically cool baker that Aucklanders know and love.
"It's heartbreaking to say this part of The Caker journey is coming to an end, but change opens doors to innovation and fresh possibilities, and I am confident that with more space in my brain, my future endeavours will bring even more value to you, my amazing Caker community," Rondel wrote.
Rondel thanked everyone who had chosen The Caker's cakes over the years, as well as her staff, who she referred to as "my heroes". While Rondel assured her fans that New Zealand was "still my homeland", she said she would be travelling back and forth from Los Angeles for projects, teasing "multiple collabs" and a TV appearance in December.
The Caker team will say farewell to Karangahape Road with three special-release flavours of cakes over the next month, starting with its beloved tiramisu cake. The last day to pick up cakes from The Caker store will be Sunday, September 3, just in time for Father's Day.
Watch this space for whatever Rondel and her sister (The Caker co-founder) Anouk decide to tackle next — we certainly will be.
Find The Caker at 446 Karangahape Road, Newton, until Sunday, September 3 — and head to The Caker's website for further details.
Jordan Rondel images: Emma Bassill.