Canelé et Crème Glacée ; In talk with Taira Ohama “Genuine Social Contribution, Not Just for Show. A Sweets Lab that Cultivates Happiness, Kind to Both People and Society.”
In our INTERVIEW series, we seek insights from various professionals on how to enrich daily life while naturally engaging in sustainable practices. In this volume, we speak with Mr. Hira Ohama of “Canelé et Crème Glacée (Bride to Be Inc.),” who is working to solve social issues through sweets.
“Canelé et Crème Glacée” – A Sweets Lab Nurturing Happiness for Society and People
Mr. Ohama:
Canelé et Crème Glacée works under the concept of “Enjoying sweets to bring happiness and revitalize society,” as a sweets lab fostering kindness and happiness for both society and individuals.
In spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic halted our core wedding business. Our CEO, Ito, encouraged us all, saying, “Let’s make this a period where we can look back and say COVID helped us grow!” Taking to the streets, our team began selling “Ultimate Canelé” directly to the customers. The support was tremendous, with sales reaching up to 2,000 canelés in a day. In December of the same year, we launched the brand “Canelé et Crème Glacée.”
Through our signature items, “Ultimate Canelé” and “Ultimate Ice Cream,” we engage in SDG support and social contribution activities. Our goal is to create a sweets shop that encourages customers to become a part of the lab, reflect on their lifestyle and social issues, and foster a chain of happiness together.
Key art visual for their new store at “Harakado Tokyo”.
A New Business Born from the Pandemic—With Genuine Social Contribution Efforts
Our corporate philosophy is “HAPPY PEOPLE MAKE HAPPY PEOPLE.” We prioritize the smiles of all partners and customers connected with our company, believing that happy people inspire happiness in others.
When the pandemic paused our wedding business, Canelé et Crème Glacée emerged as a new business built literally from trial and error.
The desire to bring more smiles to the world during tough times led our team, including our CEO, to come up with the concept, “Enjoying sweets to bring happiness and revitalize society.”
To ensure this concept isn’t just a façade, we commit thoroughly to everything from product creation to selecting donation recipients and building donation systems.
Official website of Canelé et Crème Glacée
The Meaning behind “Sweets Lab”
As introduced, Canelé et Crème Glacée is a “Sweets Lab nurturing kindness and happiness.” We call ourselves a lab for a reason.
Eating too many sweets might sometimes cause guilt, right? (laughs) But if sweets are made from simple, healthy ingredients, delicious, and contribute to society, then both customers and society can feel happy! Driven by this vision, we approach our sweets development with the dedication of a lab.
Our sweets are all handmade by artisans. Our top patissier, Ryu Miyazaki, a representative contender of Japan at the Coupe du Monde 2025, and our advisor, Yoshinori Matsushima, previously won the Coupe du Monde, establishing a solid foundation for our sweets development.
Our lab also aspires to include not only our employees and artisans but also our customers and donation recipients.
We currently support five donation recipients, carefully selected to genuinely help those in need.
We wanted customers to think deeply about social issues, so we introduced a system where customers can choose where to donate. In-store, customers can vote physically using touch screens or wooden blocks.
SDGs section on their website.
The logo for Canelé et Crème Glacée was created by art director Wakirie. The circular arrows encircling the logo symbolize the cycle of happiness we aim to generate in society. Beyond donations, we collaborate with suppliers to reduce food waste by using surplus ingredients. From the perspective of community contribution and food education, we also invite children from local foster homes to participate in work and pastry chef experiences. Additionally, we donate sweets to facilities for individuals with disabilities and elder care centers. With the support of many, our sweets lab continues to grow and evolve.
Logo and store
Collaboration with eterble for a Limited Edition Gift Set – The Vision Shared by Both Brands
Now, we’re collaborating with eterble to sell a limited-edition canelé and napkin gift set. This is Canelé et Crème Glacée’s first brand collaboration. eterble’s chic yet eco-conscious approach to product design and visuals impressed us deeply.
The shared commitment to tackling social issues is a common ground between our brands. By joining forces, we hope more people will come to know and appreciate our products and initiatives.
Canelé et Crème Glacée +eterble Sustainable Gift Set (limited edition)
Canelé et Crème Glacée attracts a diverse clientele, including young people, families, fathers shopping for souvenirs, and tourists. Meanwhile, eterble’s main customers are working women and housewives in their 30s to 60s. This gift set is ideal for small presents and tokens of appreciation across generations.
Sales will be available in-store at Canelé et Crème Glacée, on our e-commerce site, and through LINE Gift. We hope it will be a great option for Christmas and New Year’s gifts.
eterble x Canelé et Crème Glacée for a Limited Edition Gift Set
・eterble × Canelé et Crème Glacée SDGS Project Sustainable GIFT
Available :2024/10/30 Wed. ~12/31 Tue.
Includes :3 pcs canelé + 1pc napkin (calm / snow)
Sale price :¥3,980 (tax incld.)
Online Store|https://caneleetcremeglacee.com
LINE Gift|https://mall.line.me/sb/caneleetcremeglacee
Taira Oohama
Bride To Be Inc. Sweets Division GM
Canelé et Crème Glacée (Bride To Be Inc.)
A specialty shop for authentic canelés and ice cream, created by the renowned patissier Mr.Miyazaki, who has been selected as representative contender of Japan in the prestigious Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie 2025, held every two years.
Through our signature items, “Ultimate Canelé” and “Ultimate Ice Cream,” we support SDGs and engage in social contribution activities. By researching “sweets of bliss” that are mindful of both the environment and health, we invite our customers to become part of our lab, reflecting on their lives and societal issues together, and fostering a “chain of happiness” that extends through our sweets shop.
Official Website
https://www.caneleandicecream.com
Official Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/canele_et_cremeglacee