When Gary VanderStelt opened the doors to Sprinkles Donuts in 2014, he wasn’t just launching a business—he was continuing a legacy he once thought he’d leave behind.
Today, Gary leads one of Michigan’s fastest-growing donut brands, producing nearly half a million donuts each month across eight retail locations and a 14,000-square-foot central kitchen. But before Sprinkles became a regional powerhouse, Gary was just a kid working in his dad’s bakery, vowing never to follow in his flour-dusted footsteps.
If you’ve ever thought growth just happens—Gary’s story will change your mind.
👉 Listen to the full interview on The Perfect Rise Podcast to hear how this donut empire was built one shift, one hire, and one sweet memory at a time.
A Story That Starts with Family
Gary’s father began baking in the 1950s, eventually opening a small-town bakery where Gary spent much of his youth. “I said I’d never work in a bakery—or at night,” Gary recalls with a laugh. He built a career elsewhere, but continued helping at his dad’s shop on weekends, often going straight from his day job to the overnight fryer shift.
When his father retired, Gary thought the story was over. But three months later, retirement turned into reinvention. “He couldn’t stay away,” Gary says. “He told me he wanted to open a little donut shop. And I said, ‘I’m in.’”
What started with a single fryer, a used sheeter, and a handful of family members soon grew into something much larger than either of them expected.
🎧 Gary talks about this pivotal moment and the early days of Sprinkles in detail on the podcast—don’t miss it.
Building a Business—and a Mission
Sprinkles Donuts wasn’t just about selling pastries—it was about creating connection. “One day I handed out a giant ‘mistake donut’ to some kids in the store,” Gary says. “Their dad told me it reminded him of Saturday mornings with his own father at their local donut shop. That’s when it hit me—our mission is to create sweet memories.”
From surprise donuts to after-hours doorbell pickups for loyal customers, Sprinkles has stayed grounded in that mission. The bakery’s culture reflects it too, with longtime employees, managers who started on the fryer line, and Gary’s own son now stepping into a leadership role at just 19 years old.
Scaling with Purpose
Today, Sprinkles is growing in every direction—including a new line of frozen, ready-to-thaw-and-serve donuts for grocery retailers. It’s a leap into the wholesale market that required new recipes, new equipment, and a whole new level of production oversight.
“Figuring out how to freeze and thaw a chocolate glaze that actually performs? It was a challenge,” Gary admits. “But we’re committed to quality at every stage—whether that’s retail, wholesale, or whatever comes next.”
Despite managing nine locations and working seven days a week, Gary remains hands-on. He still pulls late-night shifts, helps train new staff, and works closely with the leadership team to improve systems and quality control. “You don’t run a bakery from a clipboard,” he says. “Not at our size.”
🎧 Hear how Sprinkles is managing frozen production, rapid growth, and their bold plans for the future on The Perfect Rise Podcast.
Lessons in Leadership and Hiring
Managing a growing team isn’t easy. Gary is honest about the challenge of hiring: “Eighty percent of hires probably aren’t a great fit. But when you find that one person who shows up, works hard, and cares? You hold onto them.”
Sprinkles has built a strong internal culture by valuing that kind of dedication. From district managers with donut-themed nails to part-timers who give their all before heading to second jobs, the business thrives on its people.
And Gary’s not stopping. Plans are underway for a larger facility focused solely on frozen production. His long-term vision? A national brand that still feels like a neighborhood shop—with quality ingredients, hand-crafted recipes, and a culture people are proud to be part of.
A Legacy That Keeps Rising
Gary keeps his father’s original recipe cards in a drawer beside his desk—digitized, but still treasured. Those same recipes are the foundation of Sprinkles today, even as the company looks toward an ambitious future.
“My dad was happy with his little shop and a good life,” Gary says. “My dream is to grow Sprinkles into something bigger—employ hundreds of people, pay great wages, create opportunity. That’s what drives me now.”
🎙️ Want to hear the full story in Gary’s own words?
Catch his interview now on The Perfect Rise Podcast—available wherever you get your podcasts.
👉 Listen to Gary’s Episode