Hardware Podcasts

The Cronut and Dominique Ansel Bakery: Dominique Ansel

How I Built This · 17 Jun 2024 · 1h 03m

What this episode covers

Dominique Ansel, founder of Dominique Ansel Bakery, recounts the accidental creation of the Cronut and the subsequent operational chaos of managing viral demand, including hiring security and enforcing strict line rules. He details the early financial struggles of his first Soho location, where he survived by fixing equipment himself and negotiating down to the millimeter on trash bag thickness. Ansel explains his strategic decision to resist mass production to protect product quality, leading to a controlled expansion into Tokyo, London, and Los Angeles, and the eventual pivot to a sustainable model with three brick-andmortar locations and a mail-order business after the pandemic.

Most relevant to

founders before launch and companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Dominique Ansel Bakery, Daniel, Fouchon, Grub Street
Products
Cronut, Cookie Shot

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