FULTON — Sweet Cindy’s Gluten Free Bakery in Fulton is finding growth through word of mouth as customers, who enjoy its owner’s creations, spread the word to others.

The bakery — which opened in April 2016 and sells breads, cookies, and cakes — grew its revenue by about 10 percent last year after doubling revenue in the second year, Cindy Swartwood, owner, tells CNYBJ.

Swartwood says she started the bakery because her husband, Todd Swartwood, has a gluten allergy and Cindy had experience baking gluten-free in Canada. 

Gluten is a group of proteins found in a variety of cereal grains. Gluten can cause adverse reactions in some people, which can cause a range of gluten-related disorders, including celiac disease (an autoimmune disorder mainly affecting the small intestine) and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. 

Cindy Swartwood hails from Canada and her husband is an American from Pennsylvania. They split the difference geographically and settled in Fulton, where they bought a building large enough for two businesses and living quarters.

To further its growth, Sweet Cindy’s Gluten Free Bakery is now planning to expand in a couple of ways. The first involves area markets.

 “This year, starting in May, we are expanding our reach to include the [CNY] Regional Market in Syracuse [on Saturdays] and the Watertown farmers market [on Wednesdays]. There are no other gluten-free vendors at the Watertown Market and we expect to do well in both places,” says Swartwood, who is currently the bakery’s only employee.

The business is also planning to expand and improve its facility at 55 W. 1st St. S. in Fulton. 

“As Sweet Cindy’s continues to grow, we will go forward with renovations to the area above the bakery to provide another living space for us and rent out the apartment we are currently in. We are planning changes to the outside edifice, such as color and/or resurfacing of some kind. Also, [planning on] repaving the lot and landscaping and a veranda of sorts in front of the frame part of the building,” Swartwood says.

The entire building is about 10,000 square feet with the bakery occupying 1,440 square feet. The Swartwoods added a floor above the bakery for their apartment.

“There is space for another apartment in the building but it is low on the list of priorities and who knows, we may use it for something completely different,” says Cindy Swartwood.

The business has three small tables in the sales area where patrons can have baked goods and coffee. Swartwood is considering growing to include more social space and possibly hosting a New Year’s Eve gathering. 

The bakery’s menu includes breads, cookies, donuts, and cakes. Swartwood makes cakes and cookies to order.

The bakery’s new offerings include frozen pot pies and lasagna. Swartwood is careful not to call these “dinners” since she believes that connotes eating in. She is considering expanding to include soups which she now offers on Fridays only.

Sweet Cindy’s Gluten Free Bakery’s operating hours are Tuesday to Thursday 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday 7 a.m.-4 p.m.