ORLANDO, FLA. (Gotta Go Orlando) – A family-owned business that’s been serving up pastelitos in Miami since 1972 are making their way North to Orlando!
Vicky Bakery is a Miami institution, a popular Cuban bakery and cafe with over 20 locations across South Florida, will soon be baking up a storm here in Orlando, with their specialty Cuban pastries that are made with a family recipe that has been passed down from abuelito to abuelo.
The new Orlando locations will be 4556 S Semoran Boulevard, and 1455 West Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park, where you will discover everything from cakes to cafecitos, to sandwiches and pastelitos.
Vicky Bakery is hoping to have the new Orlando locations up and running at some point this Summer.
For 50 years, Vicky Bakery’s Cuban roots and steadfast commitment to tradition have allowed the brand to stand out against the competition, passing along the love, time, and traditions that went into making pastries originally in 1972.
Antonio and Gelasia Cao fell in love over 50 years ago while working at Cuba’s most renowned bakery at the time, La Vencedora.
The couple married and migrated to Miami as political exiles, and soon had enough money saved up to buy a small bakery in Hialeah.
In 1972, Antonio and Gelasia opened Vicky Bakery. “I started making pastries here the way I made them in Cuba, and they’ve been incredibly successful,” Antonio said. “To this day, we haven’t changed the recipe, and to this day it continues to be one of the better pastries that my clients say they have eaten.”
Alex Santiago walked into the Vicky Bakery business 30 years ago because he fell in love with his wife, Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of Cuban founders Antonio and Gelasia Cao.
Admittedly, he didn’t understand the company’s special nature at first, but he quickly came to realize just how much the neighborhood concept is part of South Florida’s culture. The learning process was as personal as it gets. Going back through baby pictures, he discovered the cake at his christening and baptism was from Vicky Bakery.
“I was born in 1975. This company’s been around since 1972, and it’s been doing amazing products ever since,” Santiago says. “Because I married the youngest daughter, I was the last one to come into the family. I’m still the rookie. I’ve only been here 28 years. I’m still in awe by all the knowledge and just the things that the family does.”
Vicky’s board of directors includes six members of the family: Santiago and Elizabeth; Pedro and Amy Cao; and Fernando and Carmen Oramas. Santiago serves as CEO while Elizabeth oversees human resources and account management. Pedro is in charge of business development, Amy is on top of the marketing department, and Fernando and Carmen run training and operations.
Santiago rose to CEO because of his military background, where he learned many of his management and discipline skills. And he knows his role. The restaurateur isn’t as talented at engineering cakes as his some of his family members, so he’s taken it upon himself to bring what Vicky Bakery has done for the past five decades and create a bridge to the next generation. And a big part of that is selecting the right franchisees to grow with.
Founders: Antonio and Gelasia Cao
Headquarters: Miami
Year Started: 1972
Annual Sales: Roughly $42 million systemwide
Total Units: 20
“The American dream is that ability to start from nothing, pick yourself up by your bootstraps, and make something in your lifetime,” Santiago says. “And that’s what my in-laws did. It’s a sense of pride to be able to say that through franchising we are finding partners and investors that can go out there and take our concept because of the way it’s been set up. It’s become, in our limited experience, a very profitable business for those that decide to sign up with us.”
The growth will be meticulous. Vicky Bakery doesn’t want to open 100 stores, or even 50. It started 2022 with 17 locations and hopes to end next year with roughly 35. Currently, all of the concept’s locations are along Florida’s Southeast Coast, from Homestead to Boca Raton. More units are scheduled for Palm Beach, Orlando, and Southwest Florida. Santiago also mentioned that Vicky Bakery has been in talks with operators in Texas and Georgia.
The brand began with one store in 1972, which was actually Antonio and Gelasia’s third try, with the first two attempts burning down. The second outlet didn’t open until 1984 and the third came in the early 1990s as Santiago entered the business. Point being, Vicky Bakery thinks very deeply about growth before proceeding. The ongoing expansion phase, while the biggest in company history, is still 14 years in the making.
When the chain opened two units in 2008, the family saw how difficult it was to duplicate scratch baking. So instead of having four production facilities and eight locations, the group worked on placing all production into one venue. They purchased a distressed property at a good price during the economic downturn and built it up over the years. Now, Vicky Bakery is in the process of purchasing another 16,000-square-foot facility to support further growth.
Technically speaking, Santiago’s niece became the first franchisee in the latter half of 2021. The brand sold its first store to the public at the start of this year.
“That’s how long it took to get here,” Santiago says. “I don’t want you to think that this is something that we just created overnight.”
The sweet spot for Vicky Bakery is 2,500 square feet, but it’s dipped to as low as 1,700 square feet and bumped to as high as 3,000-,3,500 square feet. The chain prefers neighborhood positioning that’s easily accessible for morning, afternoon, and evening dayparts. Before the chain fully rolled out its franchising program, it made sure to create a store flow that allowed for as many tickets as possible per hour.
Vicky Bakery averages between $15-$30 in ticket size and 5 to 7 minutes in throughput time. Santiago says the company comes from a tradition of quick pickup; there’s tables in bakeries now, but that’s a relatively new feature.
“We feel we’ve developed what is a good system, but we’re constantly looking at the data, looking at numbers,” Santiago says. “We’re very data-centric when it comes to the efficiencies of our system, so it doesn’t mean that we’re not going to continue to tweak it. We also listen to our partners when they have suggestions—what is working, what isn’t working.”
As for Santiago’s desire to reach the next generation, Vicky Bakery has a presence on the campus of Florida International University and the University of Miami. The company is working to open a unit at St. Thomas University, as well. The CEO says the footprint not only introduces Vicky Bakery to younger customers, but it also attracts transplants from all over the country.
“We’re very family-friendly,” Santiago says. “So parents bring their kids all the time, grandparents bring their grandchildren all the time. We’re very active on social media as well. Our philanthropy allows us to reach out across generations and do things with other people, not to mention the family’s so big that we have 21 kids that are out there. Through their social media and their social webs, that’s how we’re trying to outreach to the next generation.”
In addition to franchises, the family will continue to open locations because the passion still remains. When describing Vicky’s legacy, Santiago remembers from 2008 when a woman walked in, practically fell to her knees, and began crying. He and his wife expressed concern, and the woman eventually told them her mother passed away a few years earlier and that she had just lost her dad. The wave of smells and the look of the store reminded her of childhood.
That’s how hard the nostalgia hits. Vicky Bakery only wants to create more of those cherished memories.
“It was sad, but at the same time there was a moment of us being able to say we’re really part of the fabric of something here,” Santiago says. “We are into people’s lives in a way that there’s really no other business that can say that except food—where everybody eats, everybody gets involved, everybody has a favorite restaurant, bakery. And what we see with the bakery is while you might go to one or two restaurants a week, we become a real tradition.”
CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. (Coral Springs Talk) – Vicky Bakery, a South Florida institution since 1972, has officially opened its newest location in Coral Springs.
The family-owned Cuban bakery has been serving traditional, handcrafted pastries, sandwiches, desserts, and coffee to the community for 50 years, and its newest location, located at 2528 N. University Drive in the Royal University Plaza, is no exception.
Co-owners Alicio Pina, Nosbely Toledo, and Nosdiel Silva have been deeply involved with Vicky Bakery for years and now own and operate seven Vicky Bakeries across South Florida. They saw a need for their world-famous pastelitos, croquetas, and café in Coral Springs and are thrilled to finally be open and serving the community.
“Our formula is simple…create high quality, handcrafted, traditional Cuban pastries, sandwiches, desserts, and coffee prepared fresh daily,” said Pina. “We knew there was a need for our world-famous pastelitos, croquetas, and café in Coral Springs, and we’re so excited to finally be open and serving the community.”
For 50 years, Vicky Bakery’s Cuban roots and steadfast commitment to tradition have allowed the brand to stand out against the competition, passing along the love, time, and traditions that went into making pastries originally in 1972.
Today, that set of core values, along with its belief in quality, variety, convenience, and experience, still determines its direction and has kept the brand on solid footing.
“Our menu is timeless. It’s classic for a reason,” said Silva. “We don’t change the recipes because there is something so authentic, so pure about our food. Once you bite into a croqueta or pastelito, you can immediately imagine what life must have been like in Cuba before communism took hold on the island.”
Vicky Bakery began with a vision in 1972 by founders Antonio and Gelasia Cao, who decided to open a bakery and make pastries the way they first learned in Cuba.
With one foot anchored in tradition and the other firmly planted in the future, Vicky Bakery has grown to nearly 20 locations across South Florida, with new bakeries set to open in Palm Beach, Orlando, and Southwest Florida, in addition to other markets, soon.
“Our growth has always been calculated and strategic,” said Alex Santiago, CEO of Vicky Bakery. “We’re currently under construction in additional markets across South Florida, and we’re still looking at additional growth in Palm Beach County, Orlando, Collier County, and up the state through next year. Vicky Bakery is committed to bringing traditional, handcrafted Cuban pastries and sandwiches to even more communities across Florida.”
CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. (Coral Springs Talk) – It’s a dream crumb true for Vicky Bakery fans after opening its 20th franchise in Coral Springs on Wednesday.
Known for its delicious sandwiches, croquettes, and Cuban Pastelitos, a homemade pastry recipe passed down for generations.
The Coral Springs location continues this tradition at its newest location at 2528 N University Dr, Coral Springs, FL 33065, in the Royal University Plaza.
Founded in Miami in 1972, the bakery has since become a beloved destination for locals and tourists across the state. With plenty of indoor seating and a clean, modern ambiance, Vicky Bakery is the perfect spot to grab a quick bite or enjoy a meal with friends and family.
The bakery is open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 7:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday.
Follow Vicky Bakery online, and stop by to try one of their world-renowned Guava Pastelitos.
(Timeout) – 1. Vicky Bakery Havana Club Rum Cake
In perhaps the most heavenly of matrimonies this holiday season, Miami’s beloved Vicky Bakery has joined hands with Cuba’s original Havana Club rum to create holy perfection in cake form. The OG chain of family-run Cuban bakeries is producing a limited-edition Havana Club riff on its iconic, 50-years-strong rum cake recipe. Find the moist and boozy standard eight-inch cake across Vicky’s South Florida locations while supplies last. $35.99; serves 8–1…
CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. (Tap Into Coral Springs) – Only a year ago, I was waxing poetic about the opening of Don Pan, a bakery chain from Miami serving Cuban, Venezuelan, Colombian, and Argentine specialties. Finally, Coral Springs was getting some of the finer things in life.
Soon after, however, I was corrected by my Foodies Who Review South Florida members that while Don Pan was from Miami, it was not by any means the most pre-eminent Latin bakery chain. No, that distinction belonged to Vicky Bakery, which opened its first store in Hialeah in 1972. It was not long after Versailles, the legendary Calle Ocho Cuban restaurant (whose founder, Felipe Valls, passed away recently) also opened its doors and Miami’s first ventanita coffee counter in nearby Little Havana.
Since purchasing the first Vicky Bakery store (they kept the original name) 50 years ago, the family of founders Antonio and Gelasia Cao have opened 19 Vicky Bakery locations. These feature Cuban favorites such as croquetas (breaded and fried two-bite logs of bechamel mixed with finely ground ham, chicken, or cheese), pressed grilled sandwiches, Cuban-style coffee drinks, and of course, a multitude of baked goods to choose from, including the guava paste and cheese-filled pastelitos made with puff pastry that many patrons take home by the box.
The brand new Coral Springs store, located in Royal University Plaza shopping center and over a year in the making, is the furthest north of Miami and will mark the 19th location (a soon-to-open store in Boca Raton will be the 20th). It’s also a franchise managed by the young and energetic pastry chef and Culinary Institute of America graduate, Olivia Agrenot, who also manages the Fort Lauderdale store on Las Olas.
I arrived with my hungry wife on the opening day during lunchtime, so we went for the heavy stuff – the croquetas. We tried the ham, chicken, and cheese, all of which are made in Vicky Bakery’s central commissary in Miami – three of them would be a nice-sized snack for any one person. While a bit on the starchy side and are not of the “gourmet” type that local Miami food bloggers crave, these are some of the best mass-produced varieties I’ve sampled and differ from those bought in bulk by most Cuban cafes in South Florida.
Vicky Bakery has quite a few sandwiches, including the classic sandwich cubano. I ordered the cantimpalo, unique to Vicky, with Spanish chorizo sausage and serrano ham, manchego cheese on crusty French bread, and panini pressed. I had that one with lettuce, tomato, and mustard.
We also ordered the croqueta preparada, which is a monster and is easily shared – this is a jumbo-sized sandwich of pulled pork and ham croquetas. You’d better really be hungry if you get one of these.
Of course, there’s the bakery – filled with cakes of all types. We took home some of the Rum Cake, a pound cake soaked with Bacardi’s Havana Club and covered with royal icing, which is decadent. We also brought back a slice of their chocolate cake and flan cheesecake, both of which demanded to be washed down with strong coffee. Of course, Vicky can serve you some of that as a cortadito or a cafe con leche (short and robust, or long with milk) or, if you dare and are inclined to share, as colada — about four shots of straight espresso with a strong helping of sugar, from their Italian FAEMA Prestige machine.
(Thirsty) – Folks in South Florida and from Caribbean families around the world know, tis the season for RUM CAKE!
For this holiday season, a very special collaboration might have just created the best Cuban Rum Cake in Miami. Vicky Bakery has partnered with Havana Club Rum to produce a very special and limited-edition rum cake to celebrate the season – the Vicky Bakery Havana Club Rum Cake. The beloved family-owned Cuban Vicky Bakery and the real Havana Club Rum, forced from home and aged in exile, but forever Cuban, have come together to create something magical and unique for South Florida this holiday season. For 50 years, Vicky Bakery has produced its annual rum cake to the delight of families across the region and the 2022 edition with Havana Club Rum might be the very best version yet! Fair warning, get yours now, because there is no doubt these will sell out this holiday season.
The Vicky Bakery Havana Club Rum Cake will be available while supplies last across participating Vicky Bakery locations throughout Miami-Dade and Broward County. The standard eight-inch cake comes in a custom Vicky Bakery and Havana Club Rum box and serves approximately 8 to 10 people. Pricing begins at $35.99.
“When you think about the holidays in South Florida, rum cake is just a part of it,” said Giovanny Gutierrez, Havana Club Rum brand ambassador. “Generations have grown up with it during the holidays all the way back to Cuba and across the Caribbean. Now with our Vicky Bakery partnership, we get to create something new, totally irresistible, delicious, and fun. We can’t wait to eat this cake at holiday get-togethers and family gatherings.”
The Vicky Bakery Havana Club Rum Cake will be available while supplies last across participating Vicky Bakery locations throughout Miami-Dade and Broward County. The standard eight-inch cake comes in a custom Vicky Bakery and Havana Club Rum box and serves approximately 8 to 10 people. Pricing begins at $35.99.
To stay up to date on all things holiday with Havana Club Rum and Cuban Culture in the South Florida area, follow Giovanny Gutierrez at @chatchowtv
Havana Club Rum is based on the original recipe created by the Arechabala family in Cuba in 1934. The recipe was personally transcribed by Ramon Arechabala and given to Bacardi as part of the agreement between the two family companies. In 1995, with the Arechabalas’ agreement, Bacardi re-launched Havana Club Rum in the United States. It is distilled and crafted in Puerto Rico. The Havana Club Rum brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. For more information, visit www.therealhavanaclub.com.
CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. (Coral Springs Talk) – Vicky Bakery’s 20th Location Opens Soon in Coral Springs
Crispy ham croquettes, delectable Cuban sandwiches, and life-changing guava pastelitos can soon be found in Coral Springs at the new Vicky Bakery location opening in October 2022.
With 19 South Florida locations and counting, the new bakery will be number 20, and the northernmost Vicky franchise located at 2528 N University Dr, Coral Springs, FL 33065, in the Royal University Plaza next to The Walk.
The restaurant is fast casual with a family atmosphere. Their simple formula: create high-quality, handcrafted, traditional Cuban cuisine prepared fresh daily.
Their story began over 50 years ago in Cuba, where Antonio and Gelasia Cao met while working at a bakery called La Vencedora. Once married, the couple migrated to Miami as political exiles and, like many immigrants, were forced to hustle, working multiple jobs to make ends meet.
A few years later, Antonio and Gelasia had saved up some money to purchase their own bakery in Miami. Customers instantly loved the food. However, unforeseen hardship struck when their first location burned down. No strangers to adversity, the family hustled to put together the money to open a new store which, in a twist of fate, also tragically
burned down.
“My family are bootstrapped entrepreneurs; we thrive in adversity,” said Alex Santiago, CEO of Vicky Bakery.
In 1972 the stars would finally align where co-founders Antonio and Gelasia opened the first Vicky Bakery location in Hialeah, realizing the American dream and having exploded in success ever since.
In 1992, the family’s youngest daughter, who was managing the shop’s front end, would run into Alex Santiago, fresh out of the military, who would join the family and eventually take the CEO role.
“I am inspired every day by the story of my parents; we love what we do and run this business as a family,” said Santiago.
With franchises in FAU, UM, FIU, Fort Lauderdale, soon-to-be Coral Springs, and possibly Orlando, Vicky Bakery now employs over 500 people.
“They have delicious Cuban sandwiches, and their croquettes are top-notch. I mean, I’m Cuban; of course, this is what I love to have for breakfast. I come here at least twice a week, and I’ve never had a problem with any of my orders. Keep it up, Vicky!” said Yunis C. in a 5-star customer review on Yelp.
Most dishes are made with five or fewer ingredients, made simple yet elegant, mirroring how traditional Cuban food has been made for centuries.
The bakery is open to pre-orders and catering and also runs Vicky Cares, where the restaurant donates food and money to local charities and organizations in need. The future looks bright for Vicky Bakery, which is excellent news for Coral Springs and pastry lovers.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (Miami New Times) – Vicky Bakery has opened in Fort Lauderdale.
Vicky Bakery, one of South Florida’s original family-owned Cuban bakeries, has opened in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Las Olas Boulevard. Operating since 1972, the new location is located across from Huizenga Plaza and offers fans of the family’s fare a chance to find pastelitos and croquetas further north. The authentic Cuban pastries are crafted fresh daily by a team of bakers and chefs who prepare an extensive variety of bread, pastries, desserts, breakfast items, sandwiches, cakes, and coffee. Daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
4 W. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954-314-7727
vickybakery.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (Lifestyle Media Group). The family-owned Cuban bakery opened in South Florida in 1972
Vicky Bakery recently opened its newest location in Downtown Fort Lauderdale across from Huizenga Plaza at 4 West Las Olas Blvd.
“We live and breathe South Florida and have called this our home for a very long time,” Alico Pina says, co-owner of Vicky Bakery Las Olas. “We know the people in and around downtown Fort Lauderdale are going to absolutely love our world-famous pastelitos, croquetas, café, and other amazing and authentic Cuban bakery items. Created in our own kitchens every day, our bakers and chefs prepare an extensive variety of breads, pastries, desserts, breakfast items, sandwiches, cakes, coffee and more so we have something to satisfy every appetite, whether it’s a sweet indulgence or even a loaf of our healthier, vegan Cuban bread.”
Pina and her business partners Nosbely Toledo and Nosdiel Silva have been active brand ambassadors of Vicky Bakery even before signing the rights to develop the Las Olas location. The business partners own six Vicky Bakeries in total, including locations in Davie, Miramar, Florida International University’s (FIU) North Campus, FIU South Campus, University of Miami and the new downtown Fort Lauderdale site. The entrepreneurs have a seventh Vicky Bakery under construction in Coral Springs that they plan to open by the end of the year.
“When we opened our first location in Miramar in 2016, we could have never imagined our success today as multi-unit operators of Vicky Bakery,” Toledo says, co-owner of Vicky Bakery Las Olas. “It’s really a testament to the incredible menu but also to the systems and procedures that Vicky Bakery has established over 50 years in business. That kind of tradition and operational experience has proven invaluable as we continue to grow, opening Las Olas and Coral Springs later this year. Developing Downtown Fort Lauderdale was an easy decision because we knew people can’t resist our specialty Cuban pastries made with secret family recipes passed down from abuelito to abuelo and now on to our generation.”
Vicky Bakery began with a vision in 1972 by founders Antonio and Gelasia Cao, who decided to open a bakery and make pastries the way they first learned in Cuba. Its Cuban roots and belief in quality, variety, convenience and experience have helped the brand expand throughout Florida. It has grown to nearly 20 locations across South Florida, with new bakeries soon opening in Palm Beach, Orlando and southwest Florida, among other markets.
“There is something timeless and classic about our menu. To this day, we haven’t changed the recipes because our customers, no matter which location they visit, always tell us it’s the best they’ve ever eaten,” Nosdiel Silva says, co-owner of Vicky Bakery. “Everyone can relate to our menu because there is authenticity behind it. Once you bite into our crunchy and pillowy pastelito, you are automatically transported back to the original La Vencadora bakery in Havana, Cuba, where Antonio and Gelasia, our founders, first fell in love and learned to bake before fleeing communism’s grip on the island. We’re absolutely thrilled to be open in Downtown Fort Lauderdale and introduce the community to Vicky Bakery.”
The new Vicky Bakery in Downtown Fort Lauderdale is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To learn more about Vicky Bakery, visit vickybakery.com.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (Sun Sentinel) – Vicky Bakery has opened a location in downtown Fort Lauderdale, on Las Olas Boulevard across from Huizenga Plaza at the base of the Andrews Avenue drawbridge.
This Miami-based brand now has a bakery in downtown Fort Lauderdale, on Las Olas Boulevard at the base of the Andrews Avenue drawbridge and across from Huizenga Plaza. The new location is one of six Vicky Bakery franchises owned by SoFlo entrepreneurs Alicio Piña, Nosbely Toledo and Nosdiel Silva. The hours are 7 a.m. to
7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays at 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. The trio have plans for a seventh Vicky Bakery to open in Coral Springs in a few months. According to Alejandro “Alex” Santiago, the CEO of the brand, Vicky Bakery is marking its 50th anniversary with ambitious expansion plans northward that include additional franchises in Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach by January and February 2023. 4 W. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-314-7727; VickyBakery.com
HIALEAH, FLA. (WSVN) – The owner of Vicky Bakery wanted to make sure firefighters and officers in Hialeah had a great start to their Thursday morning by donating several treats and pastelitos.
Pedro Cao, along with several employees of his bakery dropped off the Cuban pastries to the Hialeah Fire Station #1, located at 93 East Fifth Street, on Thursday morning.
“We’re here giving thanks to all the first responders from the Vicky family for all they do, leaving their houses every day to protect all of us. Thank you,” said Pedro Cao, the owner of Vicky Bakery.
“The Vicky bakery family has been in this city for over 40 years, and in good times and bad they are always there to help the community,” said Hialeah Fire Rescue spokesperson David Rodriguez. “It’s not just us, it’s the community always helping out the community in times of need, and it just makes us happy.”
The crew enjoyed pastelitos, sandwiches and Cuban pastries to start their day.
MIAMI, FLA. (Miami New Times) Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and your sweetie is in another city. The traditional way to show your love is to order some flowers or maybe a box of chocolates. But there’s a much better (and more Miami) way to show you care: Send them a box of a dozen pastelitos.
Vicky Bakery has just launched nationwide shipping of its pastelitos throughout the contiguous 48 states.
Customers can order pastelitos in three flavors — guayaba, queso, and guayaba and queso — by the dozen or two dozen. Boxes come in a choice of one flavor or an assortment of all three. Orders can be placed online at vickybakery.com.
Pastelitos will arrive frozen on dry ice within 48 hours of ordering. Each shipment will come with instructions on how to bake them. This guarantees your beloved will have nothing but warm thoughts of you when the scent of freshly baked pastries wafts through their home.
The pastelitos start at $19.99 for a box of one dozen, and shipping costs vary based on location. Shipping ranges from $10 to $50, with a two-box minimum.
Vicky Bakery’s Pedro Cao says the idea of shipping the pastelitos came about after longtime customers who moved from the Miami area began requesting the bakery’s treats. “Our fans extend way beyond Miami, and nationwide shipping was our solution to loyal customers who don’t live close to our stores.” Cao says he’s happy to share a taste of Miami with people who may not be able to travel here. “We are excited to be able to take a piece of what we’ve grown up with and offer it into homes across the nation.”
The bakery, which started as a little pastelito shop in 1972, has grown to 15 locations offering Cuban pastries made with family recipes straight from Cuba. The bakery has also kept up with the times by introducing a vegan version of Cuban bread made without the traditional lard.
For now, only pastelitos are available for long-distance shipping, but if your true love lives in South Florida, the bakery can make a special holiday platter of pastelitos and croquetas for a very Miami Valentine’s celebration.
Miami, FL (South Florida Business Journal)
Pastelitos and cafecitos could break into new markets through Medley-based Cuban bakery
chain Vicky Bakery.
Founded nearly 50 years ago, Vicky Bakery kept its 15-store footprint contained to just Miami-
Dade and Broward counties. Now, co-owners Pedro Cao, Fernando Oramas and Alex
Santiago aim to open 50 locations of the family-owned brand across the U.S. over the next five years, the Business Journal has learned.
Cao, who helped found the company along with his father in 1972, said some of the new
locations will be company-owned, but the biggest batch will open through licensing partnerships.
He said the chain already has between 150 and 200 interested potential licensees.
The brand has grown mostly through licensing agreements over the last 10 years, with a majority
of its locations in the last decade opening through outside partners. Santiago said the company
purposefully slowed its expansion as they built up manufacturing capabilities at the warehouse in
Medley, just west of Hialeah.
They are currently in the process of developing a training program for new locations, which
stalled the company’s growth plans until now, he said.
“We quickly reached the point where the three of us can’t handle it all,” Santiago said. “To be
able to achieve the standards that we uphold to, we needed help.”
Once the training program is in place, the next step would be national shipping and distribution.
He said shipping could be ready to launch early next year. Frozen versions of iconic Vicky Bakery
products will be available for purchase online for consumers to reheat at home.
Vicky Bakery’s online expansion will allow the company to see where physical store locations in
other markets in the U.S. could do well. One such market that the company already plans to
break into is North Carolina, where Oramas will move to and help facilitate new openings there.
Oramas said he expects to open the first Vicky Bakery outside of Florida in 2020 or 2021.
Part of the company’s plan for success in new markets is an updated store design. The company
partnered with a new design team to create a more modern, updated Vicky Bakery look, Santiago
said.
“We’ve locked in that 80-year-old Cuban demographic,” he joked. “Now we’re trying to bring in
and be accessible to my daughters.”
The company doesn’t plan to remodel already-established locations, as those perform well with
the “old school” aesthetic, Cao said. However, all new stores will carry the updated design.
South Florida won’t miss out on the beloved brand’s expansion. There are plans to open new
Vicky bakeries in Palmetto Bay, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale, Cao said.
Santiago likened Vicky Bakery’s expansion path to a game of the board game Risk.
“We started on this peninsula, and we’re going to work our way up until we take over all of North
America,” he joked.