Lauren Roberts, owner of and baker at Rootless Bakery, shares how the baked goods business got started and what sets them apart from other bakeries in the Akron area.
Find Rootless Bakery online and follow @rootlesscottagebakery on Instagram
What types of products do you offer?
I bake lots of different pastries and breads, all made with sourdough culture. My specialty is “pie tarts,” which are similar to the grocery store toaster pastry but with a super flaky & buttery pie crust outside, homemade jam with locally sourced fruit inside and topped with dye-free icing and sprinkles.
How do you help your customers?
Even though my products are rarely something I would call “low sugar,” there are many other differences in my products that make them slightly “healthier.”
Everything I make is made from locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. I get all of my flours (wheat, spelt, rye, einkorn, oats, etc.) from Mud Run Farm, who grows and stone mills all their grain, making it much more nutritious. A little bit of sourdough culture goes a long way in making gluten easier for the body to digest. I can also provide vegan or gluten-free products by special order.
How did the business get started?
I started Rootless Bakery in 2021 from a desire to work from home. I had just moved into my house in Ellet, and then my kitchen felt huge and full of possibilities! I enjoyed baking as a child and worked in a few bakeries as an adult. It was time for me to take charge of my schedule and share my talents with my community.
What is your business’s relationship with the city of Akron and Akronites?
When I began Rootless Bakery, I started going to more markets and looking around for baking ingredients that I could buy locally. There are so many wonderful producers in Akron and around the Akron area.
One resource that has been invaluable to me is Akron Food Works. I regularly use their rental kitchen, among other resources, and it has been great getting to know everyone there. I have really felt that Akronites appreciate their makers.
How do you see your business growing into the future?
This year I am taking a break from vending at farmers markets and focusing on expanding my wholesale accounts (Purplebrown in Peninsula and Bent Tree in Kent!) and doing more Custom Orders. Next year I hope to expand back into the markets and continue doing lots of custom orders and adding more wholesale accounts!
How can people support your business?
The best way to support my business is to place a custom order on my website! I have lots of different items listed that you can easily add to your cart and purchase. I just ask that you order three days in advance of your desired pick up date, and all orders will picked up from my home in Ellet. If you want to order something I don’t have listed on my website, you can email me and we can discuss what I can make for you!
Visit the Rootless Cottage website and follow @rootlesscottagebakery on Instagram.
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