For about a year, we’ve been giving small, local producers low-interest loans to help them grow their businesses. You can learn more about Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program.
Just this week, we finalized our first loan in our hometown, Austin, Texas! Tracy Claros, originally from England, makes and sells incredible English puddings, or cakes, under the name The Sticky Toffee Pudding Company. After starting with just one flavor, Tracy has branched out (one cannot live by sticky toffee pudding alone, although you can try!) and now offers four different puddings, with English Lemon Pudding, Molten Chocolate Baby-Cake (pictured), and Sticky Ginger Pudding rounding out the lot.

I love the classic, the sticky toffee pudding. When I lived in Australia many years ago, my best friend and I used to share these all the time (although there they are called sticky date puddings). The best part, IMO, is the stickiness - an awesome toffee sauce. Totally amazing! And really good with whipped cream or ice cream (but what isn’t?).

Although Tracy’s products are already in distribution in many parts of the country, she still makes her cakes by hand and needed some additional equipment to help her continue to grow. The loan we’ve worked with her on is going to finance a tray sealer, which will help her go from 12 puddings a minute to 40!

We’re always looking for new loan recipients, so please feel free to check out the program information and contact me if you or someone you know would be a good loan candidate.