First Friday Success Stories: Dolce Mia

February 3, 2017

This is an ongoing installment of First Friday Success Stories. On the first Friday of every month, we will feature an area business that has worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) counselor housed at the AAEDC office in Annapolis. The SBDC counselor is on hand to assist local entrepreneurs and small to mid-size businesses.

First Friday Success Story: February
Client Name/Owner: Mia Gatto
Name of Business: Dolce Mia 
Type of Business: Italian Dessert Company
SBDC Counselor: Candace Pruett, Hollis Minor
Website: www.dolcemiadesserts.com

Local Specialty Italian Dessert Company Expands
Dolce Mia Partners with Well-Known Upscale Baked Goods Manufacturer and Retailer

Pasadena, MD – Dolce Mia, a local, upscale Italian dessert company, has partnered with Bread and Chocolate, a VA-based company that has produced sophisticated bakery products for 35 years, and also owns 4 restaurant/cafés in the DC/VA area. This partnership will allow Dolce Mia to have greater capabilities of mass production and expand distribution throughout Maryland, DC, and Virginia.

“We are taking our business to the next level through this expanded production and distribution. Our focus is gaining market share in upscale restaurants and major restaurant groups, upscale grocers, country clubs, caterers, specialty stores and cafés. We are extremely excited to be teaming up with such an amazing company like Bread and Chocolate,” says Mia Gatto. “Our unique desserts serve a niche market. The Dolce Mia brand means our products are made fresh and are all-natural and preservative-free; we also use the highest quality ingredients to make your dessert experience unforgettable.”

As the tagline states, Dolce Mia promises, “An Elegant Twist on Sweet Traditions.” Its heavenly cheesecakes are made with hormone-free cream cheese and mascarpone (a specialty Italian cream cheese), which melt in your mouth and come in several flavors and sizes to meet your needs. Its gourmet cannoli filling comes in a variety of exciting “gelato” flavors, using two different specialty ricotta cheeses.

One of Dolce Mia’s biggest accomplishments was having former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice choose one of its desserts to be served during the historic Middle East Peace Conference at the United States Naval Academy in November 2007. Dolce Mia’s Pumpkin Praline cheesecake was proudly served to White House staff and more than 80 world leaders. This world-class cheesecake was then aptly renamed “Condoleezza’s Peacemaker.”

Mia Gatto first came to the SBDC in September 2010 to help grow traction of her business, Dolce Mia.

Mia Gatto first started working with SBDC Consultant Hollis Minor in September 2010. Mrs. Minor assisted client with understanding costing and market share, and helping her understand the business model. In August 2015, Mia Gatto began to work with SBDC Consultant Candace Pruett. Mrs. Pruett assisted the client with negotiations on finding a manufacturer to produce on a mass scale and helped her with some of her marketing. With the new changes, client also needed to redo the website. Mrs. Pruett consulted with the client on suggested changes and referred client to a local website designer who created their new website.

Mia Gatto speaks highly of her SBDC Consultant Hollis Minor, “Hollis is an outstanding resource. Her work experience and vast knowledge has helped me tremendously; she is also such a pleasure to work with.” Ms. Gatto also speaks highly of her next SBDC Consultant Candace Pruett, “Candace is a pleasure to work with. She understands marketing and PR very well and has experience in the food industry.”

Mia Gatto is still meeting with SBDC Consultant, Candace Pruett on a regular basis. The company is continuing marketing efforts to expand the business and sales starting in the DMV area.

For more information: call 410-575-3820, email [email protected], or visit www.dolcemiadesserts.com.

About Dolce Mia

Dolce Mia is a high-end Italian dessert company started in Maryland in 2006 by Mia Gatto. Mia inherited her passion for food and business from her parents, who immigrated to the United States from Sicily in 1964. She dedicates Dolce Mia to her parents – as she is living out their American dream.

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