Hi all,

I am a specialty baker and I make only those cakes that are geared towards food allergies/intolerances. I'm the only specialty bakery in my city. This morning I had another baker leave a message asking if I'll sell her gluten-free cakes for her to decorate for her customers.

1) I've only been baking specialty cakes for 2 months now (I've done regular cakes for a few years, and I don't do those anymore) and I was planning on getting a good share of loyal customers before other bakers catch on and want in on the action.

2) If the cake decorator isn't very knowledgeable about food allergies and messes it up, I'm afraid I could be held liable even though my part was safe. I feel responsible for the end customer.

3) My husband says #2 is because I'm a Democrat. Someone please explain this logic to me.

4) How much to charge? Half of a decorated cake? DUH...Can't seem to figure this one out.

Thanks so much for your insight!
Stephanie

Your husband is full of it.

I wouldn't do it. If you bake with wheat flour often (which I am assuming the other baker does) it is always in the air, and that other baker can no longer guarantee a gluten-free cake.

besides, your specialty cakes won't be so special anymore if people can get them just anywhere!

I don't think I'd be doing it either. If you're trying to build up your business then you want those customers to come to you, not the other baker/decorator who wants your cakes.
As well as all the reasons (apart from perhaps #3) you said, that's the main reason I wouldn't be doing it. You don't want your potential customers to be able to get that speciality product anywhere else but you.
Just my opinion!
Emma

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I don't think I would do it. You cannot guarantee it will be gluten free once it leaves your hands, but it will still somewhat have your name on it. Even though another baker is decorating and selling, what happens when it becomes non-gluten free, someone gets sick, and the other baker says, "Well the base cake came from Stephanie, and so she must not have made it gluten free to begin with."