The Cheesecake Factory plans to open a third bakery facility, in Charlestown, Ind., where it will make cheesecakes and baked goods for its restaurants and other outlets.
The 37-acre site will be a key distribution hub for the chain as it continues to grow, said founder and CEO David Overton in a press release. Cheesecake today has 211 units and plans to open up to six more this year. It believes it can reach as many as 300 in the U.S., plus more internationally.
Cheesecake’s bakeries produce the more than 60 cheesecake varieties and other items that fuel its large dessert business. In 2022, dessert accounted for 17% of its total sales, according to an investor presentation.
The bakeries also sell cheesecake to retailers and foodservice partners such as Fazoli’s.
By owning production, Cheesecake can better control food quality and the supply chain. It’s also more profitable than contracting with a third party.
The bakery in southern Indiana will join existing facilities in Southern California and North Carolina. The next phase of the project will begin next year.
The Cheesecake Factory, known for its massive menu and elaborate restaurants, began in 1972 as a single bakery in Los Angeles, where Overton’s parents sold cheesecakes to local restaurants. In 1978, Overton decided to open a proper restaurant to showcase his mother’s cakes.
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