A Vegan Starbucks? Not Quite, But Close …

Pennsylvania-based vegan wholesale bakery Batter & Crumbs will open a brick-and-mortar café this summer in southern Philadelphia. The company was founded by Paul Carmine and John Schultz, who went vegan nine years ago and began experimenting with creating vegan baked goods. “We envision a vegan Starbucks of sorts,” Carmine told Eater about the forthcoming 16-seater shop that will sell coffee, tea, prepared sandwiches, brownies, dessert bars, cupcakes, and pies. Batter & Crumbs currently distributes its baked goods to local coffee shops in the greater Philadelphia area. Last year, Starbucks partnered with Florida-based vegan bakery Bunnie Cakes to offer a single vegan cupcake at select South Florida locations.