Hong Kong-based Bakebe has officially entered the Canadian market, opening its first Canadian and North American location at CF Markville in Markham with a concept that reflects a broader shift in how shopping centres are evolving. Within days of opening, the interactive baking studio found that Canadian families had become its strongest customer segment, while custom birthday cake pre-orders exceeded internal projections by 40 percent.
The early response offers another example of how regional shopping centres are expanding beyond traditional retail by introducing tenants that encourage customers to spend more time at a property through interactive, experience-driven activities. Across Canada, landlords continue to diversify their tenant mix with concepts centred on entertainment, wellness, food, recreation, and social engagement, recognizing that many consumers increasingly value memorable shared experiences alongside shopping.
For Bakebe founder and CEO Venus Chi, the Canadian launch has reinforced the universal appeal of the concept, which has already expanded from Hong Kong into Malaysia and the Philippines.
“What surprised me most is how warmly local families have embraced us,” Chi told Retail Insider. “At first, I thought young adults might be our main guests, but we quickly saw so many parents and children signing up for baking sessions together.”
Founded in Hong Kong in 2018, Bakebe introduced an app-guided co-baking concept that allows guests to prepare cakes and desserts using interactive digital instructions at fully equipped workstations. Visitors choose a baking or decorating project, with all ingredients and equipment provided on-site while staff remain available to assist throughout the process. The model removes many of the barriers associated with traditional baking classes, making the experience accessible to beginners while still appealing to more experienced home bakers.
Bakebe’s Canadian expansion is being supported by Toronto-area-based Accencis Group, a brand development, investment and operating company that helps introduce international consumer and hospitality brands to the Canadian market. Bakebe joins a growing portfolio that includes brands such as % Arabica, Rumble Boxing, Midori Ramen and The Captain’s Boil.
Markham Offered the Right Foundation for Canadian Expansion
While the Greater Toronto Area represented a logical first step into Canada, Chi said CF Markville offered a combination of demographics, accessibility, and community that aligned closely with Bakebe’s long-term vision.
“CF Markville felt like the right place to begin our Canadian journey because it is surrounded by such a vibrant and family-oriented community,” she said. “Since Bakebe started in Hong Kong, it was meaningful for us to open in Markham, where many people already have a connection to Hong Kong culture and could understand the heart of our brand.”
Markham’s diverse population and strong family demographics made it an attractive launch market, while CF Markville’s established position as one of York Region’s leading regional shopping centres provides Bakebe with access to customers who already visit the property for shopping, dining, and leisure activities.
Rather than viewing the Canadian studio simply as another international location, Chi said the goal is to establish Bakebe as a place where people celebrate milestones and spend quality time together.
“We are creating a warm space where families, friends, couples, and groups can connect through baking,” she said.
Early Customer Behaviour Is Shaping the Canadian Business
The opening has already influenced how Bakebe approaches the Canadian market.
After observing guest behaviour during the launch, the company expanded activities designed specifically for groups, including parent-child baking experiences that previously proved successful in Hong Kong, along with colourful cupcake decorating sessions for couples and friends.
Bakebe has also broadened its food and beverage offering with fresh pastries from DUO Café and premium handcrafted drinks, encouraging guests to relax before or after their baking session.
Chi said Canadian customers have also shown strong interest in ingredient quality and allergy-conscious options.
“They care deeply about the details, from the recipes to options that feel safe and thoughtful for their families, such as nut-free and low-allergen choices,” she said.
The company believes these observations will continue shaping its Canadian operation as it introduces new programming and seasonal experiences.
More Than a DIY Baking Studio
Although Bakebe is best known for its app-guided workshops, the Canadian operation is built around multiple complementary revenue streams.
Free-style cake decorating workshops became the studio’s most popular offering during the opening period. These express sessions provide prepared cake bases, allowing guests to focus on decorating and creative expression instead of baking from scratch.
“Our free-style cake decorating workshops ranked number one,” Chi said. “Most guests don’t come here to produce a flawless cake. They just want to relax and enjoy themselves.”
The business also offers custom cakes through advance ordering as well as ready-made cakes available for walk-in customers. According to Chi, custom birthday cake pre-orders exceeded the company’s original expectations by approximately 40 percent during the launch.
Private events are expected to become another important component of the business. Bakebe is already hosting birthdays, family celebrations, and brand activations, with bridal showers, corporate team-building sessions, and other group events expected to contribute to future growth.
“What makes these events special is that guests are not just standing around or taking photos,” Chi said. “They are decorating, laughing, sharing ideas, and creating memories through a hands-on experience.”
For shopping centres, concepts like Bakebe offer advantages beyond individual customer visits. Birthday parties, corporate bookings, holiday programming, and repeat workshops create multiple reasons for guests to return throughout the year while often bringing groups of visitors to a property who may also shop or dine before and after their scheduled activity.
Experiential Retail Continues to Expand
Bakebe’s arrival reflects a broader evolution taking place across Canada’s shopping centre industry.
As retailers compete with the convenience of online shopping, many landlords are introducing businesses that cannot easily be replicated digitally. Interactive food concepts, entertainment venues, fitness operators, and immersive attractions are increasingly complementing traditional retailers, helping transform shopping centres into destinations where consumers can spend an afternoon rather than simply complete a transaction.
Chi believes that shift is evident in customer behaviour.
“I think young people are looking for more than shopping when they visit a mall today,” she said. “They are looking for places where they can spend meaningful time with friends and loved ones.”
She added that Bakebe gives visitors “a reason to pause, gather, create, and enjoy something together,” turning a shopping trip into a shared activity that extends beyond a retail purchase.
Growth Plans Focus on Building Local Connections
Looking ahead, Bakebe plans to strengthen its presence in the Greater Toronto Area before pursuing broader expansion across Canada. While the company has previously identified Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary as potential long-term markets, Chi said the immediate priority is establishing a strong foundation in Ontario.
Expansion will involve more than opening additional studios. Bakebe plans to introduce seasonal workshops tied to holidays, collaborate with local brands and retailers, and develop relationships with schools, community organizations, and neighbourhood groups.
“Our hope is that Bakebe becomes more than a one-time visit,” Chi said. “We want it to become part of the community.”
The performance of the Markham location will likely help shape the company’s Canadian growth strategy in the years ahead. If the early response continues, Bakebe could become another example of how international experiential retail concepts are finding opportunities within Canada’s evolving shopping centre landscape while demonstrating that consumers continue to seek destinations that combine creativity, hospitality, and shared experiences.
