2020 Existing Business Winner
The Sweet Granada
In 2004, Kim Redeker partnered with her mother, Toni Bowling, and opened The Sweet Granada in the heart of the growing arts and entertainment district in downtown Emporia, Kansas. Specializing in handmade gourmet chocolates as well as other confections and gifts, Redeker and her team take pride in offering a large selection of gourmet confections made with premium ingredients. Even though Redeker wasn’t experienced in chocolate or candy making, she knew that she wanted a business that would fit into the thriving and energetic downtown area.
The business experienced success quickly and became a popular downtown destination. Along the way, Redeker’s mother and partner retired and the business became totally owned by Redeker. In 2007, Sweet Granada was the Emerging Business of the Year for the Kansas SBDC at Emporia State University. Over its first fifteen years of existence, the business has experienced continued growth, which required more and more production space. The business has moved its production space twice and its retail space once, and in 2013 it landed in its beautiful current location one door south of where it began. Over the years, Kansas SBDC advisors have helped the business owners at Sweet Granada better understand the business’s production and overhead costs and its profit margins. Recently, with the help of the Kansas SBDC and a Jumpstart grant from the State of Kansas, Sweet Granada was able to re-engineer some of its equipment to improve efficiency and speed production of their signature product, Pop-Choc. This enabled it to increase production by 40% with no increase in labor hours. The business has also expanded into online sales, and now Redeker is considering some creative alternatives for her future transition plan in an effort to preserve the legacy of The Sweet Granada and ensure that the business will continue to be successful for many years to come.
Nearly all of Sweet Granada’s goods are made in-house by the employees—a major advantage. The high-quality chocolates stay consistent, and each chocolate has that “made from the heart” aspect that customers love. The Sweet Granada produces nearly 200 varieties of handmade chocolates in addition to Pop-Choc, many varieties of fresh fudge, and a number of other specialty items. “Hump Day” Cupcakes are one of the newest additions to the line-up. Each Wednesday, a different flavor of cupcake is offered, oftentimes produced by guest bakers in the Sweet Granada kitchen. Redeker and her staff are committed to being innovative and are always willing to change for the better.
Kim Redeker has some advice to new business owners; “Stay on the balls of your feet,” Redeker recommends. “Be prepared to adjust and react quickly when you need to in order to keep your business relevant, dynamic, and profitable.”
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803 Commercial Street
Emporia, KS 66801
fas fa-phone(620) 342-9600
fas fa-envelopekimredeker@sweetgranada.com
The Kansas SBDC at Emporia State University serves the following counties: Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Coffey, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, Lyon, Marion, Morris, and Osage. Contact the team at ksbdc@emporia.edu, or call them at (620) 341-5308. Kansas SBDC Advisors: Lisa Brumbaugh & Tom Byler