The Problem:

Being an entrepreneur was nothing new to Brad Katz, who has owned and operated Kawartha Lakes Fudge Factory for 15 years.  But after working as a baker for Pastry Peddler and the Buttertart Factory, he wanted to run his own restaurant, focused on providing gluten-free options.

The Solution:

In 2018, Brad connected with Kawartha Mains Food and Beverage, who operated the canteen at the YMCA. The owner was looking to exit the business, which allowed Brad to take over, with funding provided by Community Futures Peterborough.  Always looking to grow, a second opportunity came to operate a restaurant at the Peterborough Airport.  Community Futures Peterborough was happy to support Brad’s expansion plans with a second loan.

Implementation & Results:

Brad worked closely with Loans Manager Braden to put together the loan applications and leveraged the resources from the Business Advisory Centre to aid with his business planning.

Testimonial:

“Community Futures was instrumental in getting The Good Baker off the ground initially and in helping to launch our second location at the Peterborough airport.

Working with CF was easy and straightforward and I highly recommend them. I truly appreciate Braden’s guidance and support through the whole process.” – Brad Katz, Owner and Operator of the Good Baker and the Good Baker YPQ

Conclusion:

Brad is a capable entrepreneur and has the skills it takes to run his own business.  However, the capital requirements for starting a new venture can sometimes be prohibitive.  The Community Futures program is specifically designed to help rural Canadians get their startups up off the ground.

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