UPDATE: In a stunning success story, Nikki and Mike Ashkar have turned their family recipe for cinnamon buns into a million-dollar business, Mav’s Top Buns, with no paid marketing. Since the start of 2024, the New Jersey bakery has generated over $1 million in sales, selling more than 500,000 cinnamon buns to date.
This remarkable achievement comes just five years after the couple first baked their grandmother’s cinnamon buns, not initially intending to launch a business. Today, they produce an astonishing 1,000 buns daily on weekends, filling their boutique bakery with the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods.
Nikki, who has a background in marketing, leveraged social media to fuel the growth of Mav’s Top Buns. The couple’s Instagram account, launched in 2020, features eye-catching photos and videos that have gone viral, one even racking up 80,000 likes. “When you believe something so intrinsically about your product, you become that,” Nikki stated, emphasizing the importance of branding over a name like “Mike and Nikki’s buns.”
“We went from selling cinnamon buns from a U-Haul truck to making over $1 million in about a year,”
Nikki told Business Insider. Their innovative approach to marketing involved no influencer promotions; instead, their authentic content resonated with followers, showcasing the couple’s unique personalities and baking skills.
Each bun is priced at $10, reflecting the labor-intensive process that includes a 72-hour dough rest and a double frosting technique featuring a secret blend of vanilla bean and cream cheese. Nikki proudly stated, “We ice every single nook and cranny, so that you never miss a good bite.”
The couple’s journey has not been without its challenges. Nikki opened the bakery while eight months pregnant, managing the demands of a newborn alongside a growing business. “I think that’s what people really grabbed onto… they know how hard a mom and dad work,” she shared, highlighting the emotional connection customers feel towards their family-run operation.
Despite facing obstacles like power outages, Nikki and Mike have remained determined. “Sometimes we’d lose power and we’d roll buns by candlelight,” she recalled, adding that perseverance and authenticity are what keep them pushing through burnout and sleepless nights.
As Mav’s Top Buns continues to thrive, their three children are already showing interest in the family trade, rolling Play-Doh into miniature buns at home. The Ashkars’ story is not just about cinnamon buns; it’s a testament to hard work, family values, and the power of community support.
As this family business continues to grow, keep an eye on their social media for the latest updates and new creations from Mav’s Top Buns, the best cinnamon buns in New Jersey.