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The Sugar Genius
Christina Tosi has the mastered the art of marrying nostalgia and innovation with her quirky, utterly irresistible desserts. (We’re looking at you, Crack Pie). She’s the James Beard Award-winning chef, owner and founder behind Milk Bar, a bakery phenomenon founded in 2008 as part of David Chang’s Momofuku Group. Milk Bar has 12 locations in New York, Toronto, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C., plus a booming e-commerce program.
Known for: Tosi creates craveable desserts with cult followings, including Crack Pie; Cereal Milk Ice Cream, Compost Cookies and iconic “naked cakes,” with unfrosted sides.
Power move: In late 2017, Milk Bar secured a strategic investment from RSE Ventures, a sports-and-entertainment venture firm, that sets the brand up for continued growth. Terms were not disclosed, but The Wall Street Journal called it an “eight-figure investment.”
What’s next: Plans include opening Milk Bar locations in new cities, as well as evolving the brand’s e-commerce and digital platforms, which feature baking mixes, coffee and other products for home bakers.
