Rebecca Boutin with Debbie Atamanchuk. (Courtesy of Bite Me Kupcakez)
For Rebecca Boutin, who has celiac disease, ordering food can require lots of questions and stress, which prompted her to launch a business that could take anxiety away for those with food allergies and instead allow them to simply enjoy a sweet treat.
Since she and her mother, Debbie Atamanchuk, opened Bite Me Kupcakez in Merrimack in 2017, the bakery has evolved from being completely gluten and nut free to also providing dairy-free, soy-free and vegan options as well. “This is one of the only completely nut-free facilities in New England. And eating gluten-free can be a huge challenge,” Boutin says. “We maintain open communication with clients and our staff. We make sure people have a full understanding of everything they’re taking home.”
Bite Me Kupcakez offers cookies, cupcakes, cakes, muffins, whoopie pies and brownies, as well as breakfast sandwiches and paninis.
Even three years after the pandemic, Boutin and her eight employees prioritize the health of customers and accommodate any needs they may have. This includes masking up should anyone ask and making curbside handoffs. They have even driven to Massachusetts and Vermont for deliveries.
Boutin markets to those with allergies and educates them about the differences. “It isn’t the same. There is a large difference in texture and taste that they should be aware of,” Boutin says.
It’s not just the food that makes customers happy. The bakery’s cheery pink signs and pink building rival Barbie’s Dreamhouse. “If you can’t be happy walking into a pink building, I don’t know if you can be,” Boutin says as she chuckles. For more information, visit www.bitemekupcakez.com.
Written by Joseph Risteen, a student at University of NH-Manchester and a participant in the Young Reporters Project, a joint venture of Business NH Magazine and UNH-Manchester to introduce students to journalism.
Current Issue - May 2024