Rick and Claribel Carter

Owners of Brandywine Bakery

Rick and Claribel Carter are the owners of Brandywine Bakery. Rick has always been in the hospitality/food industry and Claribel hung up her stethoscope as a Licensed Respiratory Therapist to join the business with her husband. Together, they purchased their first bakery and renamed it Brandywine Bakery.

From age 10, for Rick, baking wasn’t just a hobby —it was a calling. He was 15 years old and in high school when he started his first job as a weekend Donut Baker at Mister Donut in the City of Newark, DE. He honed his passion in high school, pursuing culinary arts and baking, and then continued his hospitality training at Widener University School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. His career took him through a range of hotels and restaurants in mid- to executive-level roles, where he learned the ins and outs of service, operations, and the art of delivering memorable experiences.

In 2012, Rick felt the pull to craft his own path and launched a food service and catering company. The baking bug runs in his blood: his father worked in the bakery at the University of Delaware, and his grandmother was a baker & cake decorator for the Three Little Bakers’ bakery team. It was more than a dream—it was a legacy he wanted to carry forward.

Rick and Claribel were exploring the option of opening a virtual bakery. We believe that God opened the opportunity to take over Sweet Somethings Bakery. With the prior owner retiring, we knew it was the moment to turn their dream into reality. Today, we are dedicated to sharing warm, homemade goodness with our community, one delicious creation at a time.

We believe baking should feel like a hug you can taste—simple, honest ingredients, careful technique, and a commitment to quality that shines in every bite. We bake with patience, celebrate traditional flavors, and welcome a touch of playful creativity in every treat.