Sure, you’ve tried a Snickerdoodle, but what about a Gingersnapdoodle? At Sweet Diplomacy, a special-diet-friendly, gluten-free bakery serving up creative confections inspired by worldwide flavors, “delicious knows no borders.”
The specialty bakery is the byproduct of founder Melody Hu’s personal history. For four generations, her family migrated across eight countries on three continents, fleeing wars or seeking opportunities. But wherever they went, one thing remained constant: sharing good food and drinks brought peace, joy, and comfort to people all over the globe, uniting them and transcending differences.
Melody herself grew up traveling the globe as well, living in 12 cities in four different countries, which exposed her to various cultures and cuisines and ignited her passion for diverse culinary traditions. She channels all of this and more into the company she launched in honor of her ancestry, one uncommonly dedicated to fostering inclusivity and allowing all populations to enjoy her flavor-infused goods by providing options that accommodate all kinds of food allergies, intolerances, and preferences.
Life Is What You Bake It
Hu’s journey into baking began with a core belief: there should be room at the table for everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions. This philosophy is the cornerstone of her business. Her baked goods are a testament to the idea that dietary limitations should never limit one’s ability to enjoy good food.
She began experimenting with gluten-free treats in 2017 and started selling them in local Silicon Valley coffee shops. Encouraged by the feedback she received, she proceeded to bring her goods to farmers’ markets and to book pop-up events hosted by such big-name companies as Whole Foods Market, West Elm, and Pottery Barn. With a focus on flavor, her baked goods found their way into the hands of high-profile CEOs, tech founders, and sports icons throughout the region.
Riding on this momentum, Hu opened Sweet Diplomacy’s first brick-and-mortar neighborhood bakery in Los Altos, California, in December 2019. But you can see where this is going, right?
Only a few months after opening, the location had to close due to the pandemic. That could have put a long-term or permanent halt to Hu’s business, as the pandemic did to so many small businesses around the world, but instead, her loyal customers stepped in to create a new retail opportunity. Having tried and loved Sweet Diplomacy’s products, they expressed overwhelming interest in continuing to purchase them and support Hu. “During this time,” she says, “customers reached out to see whether we could ship our special-diet-friendly baked goods, and the seed of our nationwide shipping dream was planted.”
A Delicious Diaspora
California, and Silicon Valley in particular, experienced a huge migration of workers moving out of the city as work-from-home policies were extended and the cost of living became too high for many to justify. As Sweet Diplomacy fans moved out of the area, they asked Hu to begin shipping her goods so they could enjoy her offerings from out of town.
Thus, Sweet Diplomacy’s e-commerce arm of the business was born, setting it on the path to becoming the force it is today, with nationwide reach and a commercial kitchen that operates out of the centrally located area of Boulder County, Colorado. Offering a variety of dietary-inclusive baked goods, themed boxes, and product subscriptions, Sweet Diplomacy has always made every single item in-house and in dedicated gluten-free kitchens—still inspired by nurturing all kinds of people with all kinds of diets with an amazingly innovative array of fresh-baked treats that incorporate global influences.
With a commitment to creating a sustainable gift experience, Sweet Diplomacy uses clean ingredients and chooses sustainable packaging materials that are plant-based, compostable, reusable, or recyclable. The bakery also supports global humanitarian aid food supply efforts, donating 1% of all earnings to World Central Kitchen.
Allergy-Friendly Food
Driven by Hu’s passion, Sweet Diplomacy has flourished, becoming a beloved brand for those seeking high-quality, allergen-friendly treats. Her commitment to inclusivity and culinary excellence shines through in every house-made product, making Sweet Diplomacy a trailblazer in the special-diet food market.
Today, Hu continues to innovate and inspire, ensuring that her baked goods are nationally accessible and demonstrating the enduring appeal of novel and exotic flavors in every bite.
Sweet Diplomacy is dedicated to baking a revolution to suit all needs — with most of the online shipping products being dairy-free, nut-free, and vegan — proving that special-diet-friendly treats can taste just as good as classic desserts, if not better.
