A Westbrook baker who was so seriously ill last year that she thought she would lose her business is now opening a commercial kitchen and takeaway in a unit almost ten times the size of her previous premises.
Mum-of-three Shahla Joiner has been running Shahla’s Cakes for 12 years, working from a converted garage at her home, but now demand is so great she is moving to a new base at Phoenix Business Park in Margate (behind Home Bargains and B&Q).
The 37-year-old said: “Last year I was very poorly. I had gall stones and pancreatitis, my liver was failing. I had my gall bladder removed.
“In June last year I woke up in excruciating pain. I nearly died, it was really scary.
“I ended up in hospital with chronic pancreatitis and diabetes. I was in hospital for five weeks and in an out of A&E. I nearly gave up the business.”
The business did keep going thanks to the efforts of Natalie and Mikki who work alongside Shahla.
She said: “The girls worked to keep my business going and I was still posting videos from my hospital bed!”
This year the business has been booming thanks to a regular stall at Manston market and Instagram and tik tok reels that have gone viral.
Shahla said: “I started at Manston market and that really saved my business, I cannot praise them enough.
“I livestream from the market stall and I also livestream while baking in the kitchen, giving people an insight into what we do. People like to see behind the scenes and I have been able to incorporate that at the new place. I’ve built a half wall so you can come to the takeaway counter and also watch us baking in the kitchen. I want people to be able to see what they are buying and how it’s made.
“The takeaway counter is a bit of a bonus as it was the kitchen I really needed.”
Shahla has also invested in a commercial kitchen. She said: “Being a home baker space was limited but here I have now got stainless steel worktops, big ovens, massive storage containers – everything is just bigger- and a dishwasher with a two minute cycle which has to be my favourite thing!”
The refit has cost thousands of pounds, the majority saved from takings at Manston market where customers even travelled from London and Lancashire to see Shahla and her daughter Lissy, 15, who is a regular helper.
Shahla said: “I also did Broadstairs food festival which was amazing and helped fund it. It is nice for people to know they they are helping support my business and grow it. Without them I wouldn’t be able to do this.”
Older daughter Laila, 17, also pitches in by designing ‘Moonpig-style’ card covers which are sent out with an order for Brownies or Blondies.
Son Leyton, 12, also helps out every now and then on the stall.
Alongside the cakes and bakes that Shahla is so well known for, there will be the addition of some savouries – such as sausage rolls – milkshakes and coffee from Skinny Dip which sources coffee solely from female farmers and producers, helping to readdress the gender imbalance in the global coffee supply chain.
The opening of Shahla’s Cakes takes place on May 24th from 11am. There will be balloons, DJs and a free brownie for the first 10 customers.
Shahla, who still has to manage her condition, said: “It’s just a dream. I was so poorly last year but you only get one life and I just had to go for it.”
Shahla’s Cakes is at 2 Phoenix Business Park, Margate CT9 4HL
It’s great to see her being so successful, the cakes are great!