How Zuppardo's Grocery became a one-stop shop for king cake lovers

Zuppardo's Grocery is already well-known by residents throughout Jefferson Parish. Starting as just a fruit stand in New Orleans in 1929, almost 100 years later they have become a premier shopping spot in Metairie. On any given day, you will find the store filled with shoppers "making groceries" as we say here in the New Orleans area. Zupparado's has their own in-house bakery that makes various breads, pastries, cookies and cakes but for the last few years they have become an official "king cake hub," carrying several different varieties of king cakes from local bakeries all through the Greater New Orleans area.

I was able to chat with Zuppardo's owner, Jennifer Zuppardo to get some insight on how they got started as the one-stop shop for all things king cake and what has made this year's demand for king cake exceptional bigger than usual.

Photo byZuppardo's Facebook

TH: How and when did Zuppardo's become a king cake hub?

JZ: We started offering a few different varieties of king cakes years ago. We started off with Caluda's, Party Palace and Dong Phoung. Those were our first 3 brands that we have had forever. Each year people would call us and ask us for a certain brand of king cake, so we got it. My grandfather and great uncle always told us to listen to what our customers want. If they are happy, they will keep coming back. Before we knew it, we had about 6 different brands of king cakes. Well, each year we got a few more and this year we are up to 12 different companies and about 50 different flavors. It is crazy how quickly it grew into a king cake hub. This has definitely been our biggest year yet with the addition of Haydel's, Cannata's and Guncle's Gluten Free king cakes!

Photo byZuppardo's Facebook

TH: How many cakes do you sell on a daily basis and which ones are most popular? Biggest sale day of week?

JZ: We sell anywhere from 500-1000 cakes a day depending on the day. The first week with King's Day is a huge weekend, then the last couple of weeks it gets crazy in here. Our most popular one is obviously Dong Phoung. We only get a limited amount daily and they sell out within 5 minutes. There is usually a line that forms outside every morning starting around 7am. The next biggest one is Caluda's. We actually sell the most of their king cake then anyone else, but this year Joe's king cakes have really taken off. Friday always seem to be the biggest day to buy a king cake but the weekends are definitely the days we sell the most king cakes.

Photo byZuppardo's Facebook

TH: Plans to expand on the bakeries in the future? What are some ones that you don't carry now but would like to?

JZ: We are always keeping our options open for new bakeries in the future. This year has definitely been challenging trying to keep up with all the different companies and quantities needed for each order. It is almost like a guessing game to see which one will sell the fastest. LOL. Every day is different. Oak Point is like a dessert king cake and they have about 25 different flavors and they are all delicious. We have king cake deliveries from Baton Rouge and Houma to New Orleans East and Covington. They come from all over. I do not have anyone specific in mind that I want to sell that I am not but I like the different styles of king cakes so if it is different then the traditional king cake, I am always willing to try it. Our brands of king cakes are Caluda's, Party Palace, Dong Phuong, Brennan's, Joe's Donut Cafe, Guncle's Gluten Free, Cannata's, Butter Krisp, Saluto's Fig King cake, Oak Point, Haydel's and Zuppardo's own triple berry king cake, which is out of this world.

Zuppardo's Triple Berry King CakePhoto byZuppardo's Facebook

When I asked why king cakes are in even more demand this year, Zuppardo said, "This year is a very short season, so they are always selling even faster during a short season. King cake parties have become extremely popular in the last couple of years. Everyone wants to try all the different king cakes without having to by so many different ones, hence the king cake parties! They really are a fun way to get to taste all the different cakes and hang out with friends.

She added, "I have loved becoming the king cake hub in Metairie over these last few years. Other stores have definitely started to try to follow us, offering a variety of cakes like us, but I still think we sell the most. Also, the reason I think we have been so popular being a king cake hub is because we offer so much more. We do not just sell king cakes. We are a full-service grocery store so you can get your groceries for the week and get a king cake while you are here. We also do a lot of catering such as party trays for parties or fully cooked dinners. Whatever you need, we have it. We have a great hot bar so you can also grab lunch while you are shopping too. We also have great customer service. So yes we sell a lot of king cakes, but when you come here you get so much more then a king cake!"

So be sure to go pick up your king cakes at Zuppardo's before it is too late. Mardi Gras Day is right around the corner this year falling on Tuesday, February 13th.