A Utah frozen cinnamon roll company that began as a home-baking project among four friends has raised $7 million (£5.5 million) in Series A funding. The money will help it grow its reach in stores across the country. Sunshine Buns, based in Orem, announced the new investment as its products arrive in the freezer aisles of Target stores nationwide and in Southern California Costco warehouses. The funding round will pay for more production capacity, more product on hand, more marketing, and more hiring, according to industry trade outlet Food Business News. The business was founded in 2022 by Chrisi Hammer, her husband Matt, and their friends Brian and Kass Martin. The brand is built on a family cinnamon roll recipe created more than 45 years ago by Chrisi Hammer’s mother, who is lovingly known as Mema. “Mema had her first cinnamon roll in the 1970s and knew she could make something better,” Chrisi Hammer explained in an interview published by the Startup State Initiative, a Utah state government business platform. “She worked for years to create the perfect recipe, and…
Four friends turned homemade cinnamon rolls into a $7m business on Target shelves
In short
Founded in 2022, Sunshine Buns raised $7 million in Series A funding to expand nationwide into Target locations and Southern California Costco warehouses. The business began as an Orem-based home-delivery service before launching a storefront and pivoting into frozen wholesale products. Along with funding production capacity, marketing, and hiring, the capital will support new product development. The brand gained traction through early placement in regional grocers such as Hy-Vee, Gelson’s, and Bristol Farms.
Key points
- The founders successfully scaled a 45-year-old family recipe from an Instagram operation…: The founders successfully scaled a 45-year-old family recipe from an Instagram operation into major national retailers.
- Capital from the funding round will directly finance increased production capacity, new h…: Capital from the funding round will directly finance increased production capacity, new hiring, and nationwide marketing efforts.
- Strategic mentorship from established regional consumer brands helped guide the company t…: Strategic mentorship from established regional consumer brands helped guide the company through its rapid retail expansion.