Rachel Reeves tax blamed as Meghan Markle’s ‘favourite baker’ resorts to crowdfunding | Royal | News

Meghan Markle’s favorite baker is considering crowdfunding to ease the pressure of Rachel Reeves’ job rates rise. Claire Ptak, the owner of Violet Cakes patisserie, made the wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and her cakes were featured in the pages of Vogue magazine. Cookbooks have been published, including The Home Made Sweet Shop and The Violet Bakery.

Despite the success, Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ review of rates and National Insurance increase It damaged Ms Ptak’s business, which employs 20 people in Dalston, east London. Ms Ptak wrote in an Instagram post: “We are considering crowdfunding as well as investment. Do you have any ideas? Would you support a crowdfunding campaign?”

Ms Ptak built her business from scratch, baking at home and selling her cakes from a stall in London’s Broadway Market since 2005. The smell of Violet Cakes’ freshly baked cinnamon buns, chocolate brownies, cookies and scones has been drawing customers to its premises in Dalston since 2010.

But the US-born businesswoman said the National Insurance increase had destroyed her business due to an extra £90,000 a year increase. Wages used to make up 38% of operating costs, but now they are 50%, Ms. Ptak said.

The baker told Times: “I used to think crowdfunding was about asking your customers to give you more money, but it’s actually about customers supporting a business they want to be there for.”

Miss Ptak was asked to bake the Sussexes’ wedding cake after their win MeghanAccording to the same publication, she gained attention after the release of The Violet Bakery.

She explained how to make six cakes as options for the wedding, including rhubarb cake, chocolate salted caramel cake and fruit cake.

The baker explained that it was Prince Harry who rejected the offer, saying the couple “definitely don’t eat fruitcake.”

Harry and Meghan broke royal tradition by not opting for fruitcake at their wedding. Instead, they opted for a lemon and elderflower creation covered in buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers. It took six bakers five days to create the cake for the Sussexes’ big day.

Ms Ptak said while her bakery remains successful with a loyal customer base and commissions from celebrities, it is not immune to the challenges businesses are currently facing.

Firms in the UK are ringing alarm bells over rising costs resulting from Government policies.

Curry’s, JD Wetherspoon and Morrisons are among those warning that rising costs, including wages, business rates and energy, are having a negative impact.

The Chancellor insisted businesses were “optimistic”. Speaking in Davos, Ms Reeves said: “We have the right plan for our economy and our country to deliver the growth and prosperity we need across the country.”