It was a match made in sweet culinary heaven.
Fuller Industries Inc. had a full-service commercial kitchen that saw only occasional use since the long-time commercial cleaning product maker closed its staff cafeteria several years ago.
Allie Cartwright had operated her successful Freaking Delicious Cheesecakes out of the historic Wolf Hotel in Ellinwood since launching in 2022, but was outgrowing the space as the business bloomed.
Now, through a little matchmaking from the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, Cartwright will begin making her decadent treats in Fuller’s facility through a lease agreement starting in January.
“This is really a win-win,” said Fuller General Manager Joe Mann. “It is a great way for us to partner with a local business to use our space to grow.”
Currently, the kitchen is only used by Fuller personnel to help prepare meals for employees, Mann said, adding that it was really being underutilized.
‘This is a great opportunity for us,” Cartwright said. “We were looking for a way to expand, and this was the perfect fit.”
Cartwright started the business in August 2022 after selling homemade cheesecakes to fund her dog’s surgery. The unexpected demand turned a part-time hobby into a full-time operation within six months.
Freaking Delicious Cheesecake was the first-place winner in the Great Bend Economic Development Inc.’s 2025 Ignite Rural Business competition on Oct. 9, receiving $50,000.
Her cheesecakes are currently made to order with delivery available within 25 miles of Ellinwood. She sells her cakes from her vending trailer, and her products are also available at The Page in Great Bend and the Ellinwood Packing Plant.
But she was limited by the size of the kitchen she had been using. Now, that will change.
“I’ll be out here five days a week, at least,” she said. This will not only give her the space to up her retail game but expand more into the wholesale market throughout Central Kansas.
“One of the things we like to do here at the Chamber is bring our members together,” said Megan Barfield, Great Bend Chamber president. “Such partnerships between two respected businesses only serves to strengthen our community and local economy.”
The arrangement is part of Fuller’s ongoing community outreach, leasing space in the massive 600,000-square-foot plant to businesses needing space, Mann said. Takkion, a national company that handles logistics for wind and solar power generation, is using about 110.000 square feet for wind turbine parts.
“This type of cooperation allows us to make room available to businesses that need it, so they don’t have to start from scratch,” he said. “It also allows us to optimize our space and add another revenue stream to our operation.
Cartwright runs the business with her husband, Ed and son, Nicholas. For more information, visit freakingdeliciouscheesecake.com or call 620-303-0350.
To contact the Chamber, call 620-792-2401 or visit greatbend.org.
To learn more about Fuller, call 620-792-1711 or visit Fullerindustriesllc.com.
About Fuller Industries Inc.
Based in Great Bend, Kan., with a rich heritage dating back over a century to the Fuller Brush Man, Fuller Industries is a leading American manufacturer of industrial products, including cleaning chemicals and supplies, as well as brooms, mops, brushes and more. Fuller serves manufacturing, commercial, institutional and agricultural clients across the Western Hemisphere. Call 620-792-1711 or visit Fullerindustriesllc.com.