KANSAS CITY, MO — It’s safe to say the Kansas City Chiefs know a thing or two about football, and one might say Kansas City bakeries know a thing or two about helping the Chiefs celebrate.
This season, the Chiefs have the opportunity to shake things up with a potential three-peat Super Bowl win — something that’s never been done in NFL history — and local bakeries are gearing up right alongside them.
Chiefs-themed items grace the McLain’s Bakery menu year-round, but the bakery case will be extra stacked this playoff season in anticipation of the milestone.
“Every year it’s gotten bigger and more exciting and there’s more energy in the air,” said Mollie Lothman, co-owner of McLain’s Bakery. “We won two back-to-back Super Bowls, so we’re obviously excited for the possibility of a three-peat. When we went to the Super Bowl last year, it was one of the busiest weeks of the year.”
A game-time decision
From an “Andy Reidcicle” cake depicting the NFL coach’s frozen mustache during a below-freezing game to shareable pull-apart cupcakes, this long-standing KC bakery knows how Chiefs fans want to celebrate.
“We’ve learned over the years that if there’s any fun, exciting event going on, people want to bring baked goods to those viewing parties, celebration parties and the office just to pump people up,” Lothman said.
If things don’t quite go as planned during the Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills game on Jan. 26 — the only thing standing in the way of the Chiefs’ third consecutive Super Bowl presence — McLain’s isn’t worried about selling the stock of goodies they prepped in advance.
“There are so many holidays right after the playoffs,” Lothman said. “We have Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day, and if the Chiefs don’t make it, we just par back on hours and switch directions to focus on those other holidays.”
For example, the bakery introduced its Kingdom Cake, a Chiefs twist on a traditional Mardi Gras King Cake, last year, and it was such a hit that McLain’s is bringing it back. By creating mashup products such as this, bakeries can keep the buzz going, even after the clock ticks down.
Love for the local team
Of course, one would be remiss to talk about the Chiefs and not mention tight-end Travis Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, and the pop icon’s impact on the game, as well as bakery sales.
“Taylor dating Travis has really increased the female population who’s tuning into games, which increases the desire for special products inspired by her,” Lothman shared. “It brings in a whole new customer base, which has been really fun to watch from our perspective. We get dads and their daughters coming in and little girls excited about football, so it’s really become an all-encompassing thing for everyone to cheer for.”
Regardless of the outcome, Kansas City bakeries benefit from any and all traffic generated by the popular NFL team.
“It’s so great for the local economy, and it’s so great for our team,” Lothman said. “When the Chiefs go to the Super Bowl, obviously we’re cheering them on because we just want them to win, but it’s also just so amazing what it does for the city as a whole and for all the small businesses.”
Local events and pop culture sensations provide the perfect opportunity for bakeries to drive sales and gain new customers. By trying out new things at the bench — whether it’s an NFL fandom or resounding pop-cultural moments — bakers can be confident it’s a win-win for all players involved.
