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Madison, WI

Expanding a locally-focused bakery and scratch cooking education space.

• Growing Local Impact: Expanding operations to include a teaching and community space.
• Sustainable and Local: Committed to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
• Established Presence: Vendor at the largest producer-only farmers’ market in the nation.
• Revenue Growth: Doubled revenue in the last six months of 2024 with continued expansion plans.
• Community-Focused: Teaching people how to cook from scratch using sustainable ingredients.

Mermaid Kitchen is raising funds to expand its operations by building out a new teaching and community space, enhancing its transportation capabilities, and refinancing existing debt. The business, which started as a small batch bagel pop-up, has grown into a thriving operation offering fresh, locally sourced bagels, baked goods, and scratch cooking education. This new investment will allow Mermaid Kitchen to deepen its community impact by providing hands-on cooking experiences while continuing to expand its presence at farmers’ markets and beyond.

With a strong foundation in Madison, WI, Mermaid Kitchen has doubled its revenue in the last six months of 2024 and expects to more than double it again in 2025. The funding will support the company’s mission to make fresh, sustainable food more accessible while fostering a deeper connection to local food systems. By investing in infrastructure and transportation, Mermaid Kitchen aims to reach more customers and provide an engaging, educational experience for the community.

Company Info

Mermaid Kitchen specializes in fresh bagels, bakery items, and culinary education with a focus on local and sustainable ingredients.

Mermaid Kitchen is a food business based in Madison, Wisconsin, specializing in fresh bagels and bakery items made from locally sourced ingredients. The company operates at farmers’ markets and provides educational experiences in scratch cooking. Founded in 2021 by Lisa Jacobson, Mermaid Kitchen has grown from a small family-run bagel pop-up to a commercial bakery with a presence at the Dane County Farmers Market, the largest producer-only farmers market in the U.S. The business focuses on sustainability and community engagement, aiming to make fresh, local food an integral part of people’s lives.

The company is expanding its offerings to include a dedicated teaching and community space for culinary education. The new facility will allow customers to learn techniques such as pickling, meal prep, and baking, furthering the company’s mission of integrating local food into daily life. Mermaid Kitchen also operates an online platform offering specialty products like cookies, granola, and locally roasted coffee.