What began as a lockdown baking hobby has grown into an award‑winning business for Barrie entrepreneur Sophie Rennie.
The owner of Sweet & Sassie Bake Shop was recently named Entrepreneur Award recipient at the Barrie Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Awards, an honour she says still feels surreal.
“I couldn’t even believe when I originally got the email saying I was even nominated,” Rennie told Barrie 360. “I think it’s pretty special that someone even took the time to go on and think of me in my business and nominate me.”
Rennie launched Sweet & Sassie in 2020, at just 16 years old, while attending high school online during the COVID‑19 lockdowns. With a passion for baking, support from her family, and an abundance of cookies, she made the decision to pursue her passion.
“I’ve always loved to bake,” she said. “Obviously, everyone was at home, and there was lots of time on everyone’s hands.”
Listen below to our conversation with Sophie. It begins at the 27:20 mark.
The business started small - baking from home and offering porch pickups to friends, family, and neighbours. As word spread, so did demand.
“Word of mouth is the best thing,” Rennie said, explaining how early customers helped grow her client base during a time when traditional marketing wasn’t possible.
Over the next five years, Sweet & Sassie expanded from a pre‑order menu to custom cakes, cupcakes, and desserts for birthdays, weddings, and other milestones. Last summer, Rennie added a 20‑foot dessert trailer, allowing her to serve events across the region.
A major turning point came when an opportunity arose to open a storefront inside Kennedy’s Lakeside Grocery. With little hesitation, Rennie jumped in - opening the location in September 2024.
“I didn’t even think twice about it,” she said. “This opportunity is here now. I need to jump on it.”
The storefront has enabled Sweet & Sassie to grow even further, introducing coffee, tea, and grab-and-go treats, while providing Rennie with something she didn’t have during the early years, face-to-face connections with customers.
“I didn’t get to meet face-to-face with a lot of my customers because it was porch pickup and the whole quarantine,” she said. “So it’s been really nice to just be able to make those connections with people in our community.”
While she credits her mother - a former business owner - for guidance along the way, Rennie says most of what she’s learned has come from experience.
“I’m just learning as I go every day,” she said.
As for the future, Rennie plans to keep growing at a steady pace, including hiring staff and refining her operations. For now, she’s enjoying the journey - and still loves being in the kitchen.
“I truly love it,” she said.
