ALMetro360

Cake Designs — Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing B Y D ANIEL D YE I F YOU WERE AROUND IN 1985 WHEN C OCA -C OLA C OMPANY INTRODUCED A REFORMULATED C OKE , REFERRED TO AS N EW C OKE , YOU MAY RECALL THE EXTREME CONSUMER PROTEST THAT RESULTED FROM THE ILL - FATED DECISION . A FTER 99 SOLID YEARS OF SERVING THE SAME BELOVED FORMULA , THE A TLANTA - BASED COMPANY ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE SALES WITH THE FORMULA CHANGE . S EVENTY - NINE DAYS LATER THE ORIGINAL DRINK WAS BACK ON STORE SHELVES . hat does the world’s best-selling soda have to do with Cake Designs? Nothing really, but the companies do share some similari- ties. Cake Designs was established in 1985, the same year Coca-Cola’s major marketing gaffe occurred. Both companies are well-known to their loyal cus- tomers. Chances are if you have lived in the area for a few years you have had the pleasure of tasting a Cake Designs creation and if you live anywhere in the world you’ve drunk at least one Coke. There is more to the story here. Cake Designs relies on its original formula for providing a memorable cake and that formula has not waivered since its founding. Owners Sam and Sandra McGhar, who are also husband and wife, have occupied the same location in Montgomery since its origination. At a time when businesses are making moves farther east or downtown, Sandra has decided to stay put on Debby Drive. “After a lot of prayer and consideration this was the point I picked,” Sandra said of her decision in 1985. “This is like a five points area. There are people from Greenville, Elba, Troy and those surrounding areas that come to us. We just had to choose what we thought was best for us. It really does not matter where you are in town. It’s your product. People will come to you.” For some brides and grooms, it is the look of the cake they are after. Others prefer taste over the look of the finished product. Cake Designs has mastered look and taste solely with non-dairy buttercream icing rather than fondant. “So many couples are only concerned with how the cake looks, but I happen to think the taste is even more important,” said Prattville-based Stacey Little who is a best-selling author and blog- ger. “That's why the folks at Cake Designs have been making cakes for us for years. Often times you have to sacrifice one quality for the other, but not with Cake Designs. Their cakes are all butter- cream, no fondant, but you can't tell by looking at them. They 16 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com THE DISH.............................................................................................................................................. W