Lake Country Success Stories: Visionaries Who Chose to Build Here

Mackenzie Maunder: Bringing French Pastry Expertise to Small-Town BC

Owner and Founder of Beat. Patisserie

Mackenzie Maunder brought authentic French pastry techniques to Lake Country after recognizing something the growing community was missing. Armed with advanced pastry diplomas, certificate training in France, and experience in Toronto's competitive food scene, Mackenzie saw opportunity in Lake Country's unique position as a small town with big-city accessibility.

Originally from a small community north of Toronto, Mackenzie grew up in the food industry through her parents' gourmet food store, giving her both the palate and business acumen to recognize Lake Country's potential before most others did.

What attracted you to Lake Country as a business location?

I realized Lake Country had a small-town feel but was actually a big commuter community. People travel from Vernon and Kelowna, and with Lake Country in the middle, there's always highway traffic. That traffic flow is incredibly helpful for a new business getting started. The community was ready and willing to support something they didn't already have.

 

You opened during COVID. How did that impact your launch?

Opening during COVID wasn't ideal, but what helped was the community's readiness to support a new offering. It allowed for an easy, quiet soft opening, which gave us time to work out operational issues before the business grew larger. The timing forced us to build our customer base organically.

How has your customer base evolved over the past five years?

We have lots of regulars and return clientele. Some customers drive in once a month from across the Okanagan and stock up. That kind of loyalty comes from the community feel. You can build real relationships with your customers, which helps with satisfaction and retention. Big cities don't offer what Lake Country has in terms of that personal connection.

 

Where do you see opportunities for other businesses?

There's significant room for expansion. The community wants to see different offerings and services, and there's no shortage of opportunity or space to grow. What's unique is that the community continues to be close-knit even as it grows. The business community helps each other be successful.

 

How do you find specialized talent in a smaller market?

Being a specialty business, I look for people with specific training, which can be challenging. I've successfully recruited talent from outside the province and other countries, but having Okanagan College offer a baking program helps with entry-level staff recruitment.