Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Simons.
Hi Jack, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I have always liked cooking for my friends. I decided to get serious about a brand when a friend of mine that had had an abundance of my cooking suggested I start selling my food for profit. I reached out to a local farmers market in Tremont and put up a stand there my first year in the summer of 2020. Since then, I’ve enjoyed the feedback I’ve gotten from customers and continued to develop the concept for healthy baked goods and confections. Last year I launched a website so people can order my products without physically coming to a seasonal market, and this year, I’m approaching local groceries, gyms, and coffee shops to have a more stable shelf space.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The challenges I’ve been facing are primarily associated with the task of finding high-quality, nutrient-rich food sources that align with our values. Striking a balance between securing the best ingredients, which is paramount for our product quality, and ensuring cost-effectiveness to maintain and boost profitability has been difficult in the current state of Cleveland’s food culture. There are businesses that have managed to do it like Larder Deliquescent and Ohio City Pasta, both inspirations of mine, so I’m looking into their sources and models.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in making sustainably sourced, nutritious food products for the Cleveland area. It’s a well-known but disappointing fact that in the food industry, quality often gets compromised for the sake of profit margins. My mission is to challenge and disrupt this practice.
I started out making healthy cupcakes and cookies, but recently, I’ve moved away from highly processed sugary goods, and I’m now moving into more balanced nutritious, and delicious treats.
My focus is on incorporating wholesome and nutritious ingredients in all my baked goods, ensuring not only taste but also nutritional value. I believe that food for the soul can be food that makes you function and feel better; this philosophy is the core of Cleveland Confections.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I’ve lived in Cleveland all my life; born what is now Gordon Square, I’ve lived in the neighborhoods of Edgewater, West Boulevard, and most recently Historic China Town.
One of the biggest perks of living in Cleveland is being by our beautiful Lake Erie, one of the true wonders of northeast Ohio. Being able to fish for beautiful and tasty Walleye, taking a kayak out into the lake, or to look out at the cool and calm water is truly a pleasure.
My least favorite thing about Cleveland is the weather. The terrible winters paired with mismanaged government funds, often leads to shoveling snow for hours on end in the dead of winter.
Pricing:
- Buckeye Protein Bites $6
- Backyard Granola Bark $6
- Sweet Beet Carrot Cake $6
- Peanut Butter Banana Cake $6
- ChocoCoco Truffle (2) $5
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.clevelandconfections.com/store-NEmC2
- Instagram: @clevelandconfections
