Total Donut Solutions is a haven for pastry enthusiasts, celebrated for its artisanal donuts and croissants, all meticulously crafted from scratch. Beyond their mouth-watering baked goods, they also offer a full espresso menu, making it a perfect spot for a delightful treat or a cozy coffee break. Located at 405 Main Street, Kentville, NS, they have expanded from a wholesale operation to a coffee truck and now to a charming café with home delivery service. We spoke with Ian Broscoe, the pastry chef and co-owner, along with his partner Christina, to learn more about their journey, their passion for baking, and what makes their business special.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Total Donut Solutions is a shop that makes donuts and croissants from scratch. We sell our baked goods along with a full espresso menu.
What made you want to do this work?
Baking was an interest of mine while I worked as a supplier of roasted coffee to local cafes and restaurants.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
I saw that there was room in Halifax for donuts and croissants that were made to a high standard and that really brought people a joyful experience. We’ve transformed from a wholesale only operation to a coffee truck to a tiny cafe that also offers a home delivery service.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
We love that a truly wide cross section of the local community walks into our shop, people who walk down the street with their family and people who make it a destination for a long drive.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
We produce baked goods from scratch and sell them in person at our shop, through our website and home delivery service, and we also have a small wholesale program to sell our goods to other cafes.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
After closing our Halifax location, we’re excited to reopen soon in downtown Kentville with a newly renovated space. Customers can also place pick-up and delivery orders on our website, totaldonutsolutions.com
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services?
Our products have a creative and modern take, but are made from scratch with traditional methods and ingredients, to a consistent high standard. We’re fortunate that people who really appreciate what we do have been able to find us and continue to come back for more!
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
I enjoy the freedom of applying my philosophy of food and seeing that people appreciate that, while it can be frustrating to limit what we offer because of pressures on production time.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Keeping it in the sphere of coffee and treats, we’re fans of Tart & Soul. They are bakers as well, but also offer a great lunch!
