BUSINESS 34 SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 15 - JULY 5, 2019
Vegan cinnamon rolls coming to Gilbert BY CECILLA CHAN Staff Writer
A bakery offering vegan cinnamon rolls tailored to suit just about any taste bud is coming to Gilbert. Cinnaholic is opening its first location in Arizona this month at SanTan Village at Williams Field Road and Santan Village Parkway. “It’s build-your-own bakery cinnamon rolls customized with 20 flavors and 20 different toppings,” said Gilbert resident Shanntel Hobbensiefken, who co-owns the franchise with her husband Aaron. “What’s unique about it is it’s plantbased,” she said. “It’s dairy-free, egg-free, cholesterol-free and half the calories of our competitor. Our typical Old Skool Roll is 450 calories.” However, the various toppings will increase that calorie count and cost, she added. The average cost of a regular roll is $5.50, according to Hobbensiefken. Despite eschewing the traditional ingredients such as eggs, milk and butter that go into a cinnamon roll, there is no sacrifice in taste, according to Hobbensiefken, who’s eaten the baked goods at the Cinnaholic Bakery in Brea, California, near where she used to live. “People are shocked when they are told it’s plant-based,” she said. “Lot of people don’t realize it’s vegan.” Co-founders Shannon and Florian Radke launched the California-based company in 2010 with their first bakery in downtown Berkeley. Today, with the Gilbert bakery, there are 31 locations in the United States and Canada. Shannon Radke called the couple “the perfect team to grow the Cinnaholic brand in Arizona.” Cinnaholic is scoring rave reviews from customers, even from non-vegans. “I’m a full on, bacon-eating omnivore and I will destroy a Cinnaholic cinnamon roll,” wrote one customer on Yelp, a crowdsourced review forum. “Seriously, whether you are vegan or not, you will want one of these things in your face.” Another customer wrote “it blew my mind” when she found out she was eating a vegan cinnamon roll.
Above: Aaron and Shanntel Hobbensiefken stand in what will soon be the Gilbert Cinnaholic bakery with their three children. The franchise features vegan cinnamon rolls. (Kimberly
Florian amd Shannon Radke founded the Cinnhaloic franchise in Berkeley, California. (Cinnaholic)
Carrillo/Staff Photographer)
Right: Cinnaholic’s frosting comes in numerous flavors and customers can also order special fruit toppomgs as well. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
“This is the first in Arizona to open, there’s really nothing that is like us,” Hobbensiefken said. “Our closest competitive is Cinnabon, where it’s not scratch-made or customized gourmet.” Cinnaholic’s frosting flavors include lemon, chai, peanut butter, cake batter and amaretto while toppings include apples, caramel sauce and marshmallows. Customers can stick with the classic cinnamon roll or build their own creation. Some popular cinnamon roll combinations include Blueberry Pie, Strawberries and Cream and Cookie Monster, according to the company’s website. Other menu items include bite-sized Baby Buns, cookies, brownies and raw, edible cookie dough. Hobbensiefken said she is working with a Gilbert coffee roaster to offer locally sourced coffee at the bakery. Choosing to go with Cinnaholic was easy for the mom of three boys, ages 3,
4 and 5. She said no one in the family has diet issues but she knows plenty of people who do. “I have a lot of friends who have kids with dietary restrictions, like egg and dairy intolerances,” Hobbensiefken said, adding: “They were always struggling to find a place to take their kids. (And) I’m a mom that likes the idea of high-quality ingredients and freshness and it worked out well for our family.” The couple is throwing 100 percent of their time into their new endeavor. Hobbensiefken’s husband left behind a career as a high school history teacher for his new gig. “We will be working the front of the house and the back of the house,” Hobbensiefken said. “My husband and I are fully committed and will be spending lot of
time baking.” Baking is right up Hobbensiefken’s alley. “I like to bake and to cook for my family,” she said. “I would like to bake unique things for my kids’ birthday parties, for friends and families and events. It’s always been a fun, creative outlet for me.” The couple plans on hiring 20 to 25 part-time employees. The bakery also will offer catering for occasions such as weddings, office parties and business meetings. “We are looking at mid-June for opening,” Hobbensiefken said. The bakery was still under construction last week so an official opening was not yet set. But on opening day, Cinnaholic will treat customers to $1 gourmet rolls. “I have young, very active boys that can’t wait,” Hobbensiefken said. “They’ve been a part of it and why we are doing this.”
Vegan lovin’ from the oven What: Cinnaholic Bakery Where: Opening in mid-June at Suite 103, 1887 E.Williams Field Road, Gilbert Contact: 480-809-9068 Information: cinnaholic.com
Western State Bank names 2 vice presidents SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
Western Bank has named two new vice presidents. The bank, which has offices in Chandler as well as other Valley cities, named Susan Kubis vice president/cash management officer. Kubis is responsible for the development of new cash management business, the expansion of existing relationships and delivery of cash
MEDCENTER
from page XX
on the commute for our current employees while also creating the opportunity to attract additional qualified job applicants from the central and west valley areas,” said Puffer. The company has not yet released what positions will be available or when such openings will be announced.
management services to Western’s new and existing customers in Arizona and provide product support to Western’s other bank locations. She has been in cash management for over 10 years in Minnesota and Arizona. She is originally from Cloquet, Minnesota, but lived in the Twin Cities since graduating and earned an Associate of Arts degree in accounting. Kubis has been a member and is the immediate past president of the
Minnesota Association for Financial Professionals as well as a member of Arizona’s local chapter, AFPA. She also volunteers for Junior Achievement and currently resides in Gilbert with her husband. Meanwhile, Kurt Johansen recently joined Western State Bank as executive vice president/commercial lending director. His duties include leading and supporting the business banking officers and cash management officers in Arizona, and overseeing commercial lending.
Johansen has 30 years of banking experience, serving in various positions and most recently was vice president at Great Western Bank. A Tempe native, Johansen and earned his degree in business from the University of Phoenix. He serves on the Chandler IDA Board and volunteers for the Chandler Compadres. Western State Bank is a 117-year-old employee-owned, community bank with assets totaling over $1 billion.
However, new employees can look forward to a central courtyard area between buildings that is shared building residents and an outdoor patio dedicated to employees only. Fresenius has more than sixty centers in Arizona, but chose Chandler to open yet another because the city has been a “great partner” and “supportive” of the company. CEO Bill Valle said he is “excited”
to expand the company’s presence in Chandler. “We have made a strong commitment in Arizona to support individuals living with kidney failure with the highest quality care. This business center will further our mission to improve the lives of all our patients and help us offer the best options for treatment available including access to home dialysis,” Valle said.
Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke said the opportunity to have yet another large corporation settle into the area is promising for the community. He added he is thankful for their investment in Chandler. “Fresenius Medical Care joins an impressive roster of employers expanding in [the] Price Corridor. This area offers a central location and access to a talented workforce,” said Hartke.