Addison-Based Nothing Bundt Cakes Names Former TopGolf Top Leader as CEO

At both Topgolf and Dave & Busters, the exec led efforts "that nearly doubled unit count and increased average unit volume by double digits, and that growth mindset is key to what we want to achieve at Nothing Bundt Cakes," Roark Capital Managing Director Sarah Spiegel said.

Veteran multi-unit and franchise executive Dolf Berle has been appointed chief executive officer by Addison-based Nothing Bundt Cakes, the nation’s largest specialty cake bakery.

Most recently, Berle was CEO of Lindblad Expeditions, a New York-based global adventure travel operator. Before that, he gained multi-unit and franchise experience as CEO of Dallas-based Topgolf. Prior to that post, he was president and COO at Dallas-based Dave & Buster’s.

“During his time at both Topgolf and Dave & Busters, Dolf led efforts that nearly doubled unit count and increased average unit volume by double digits, and that growth mindset is key to what we want to achieve at Nothing Bundt Cakes,” Roark Capital Managing Director Sarah Spiegel said in a statement. Spiegel served as interim CEO during the selection process. “We are confident that Dolf’s leadership experience will help Nothing Bundt Cakes accelerate the brand’s fantastic growth trajectory and continue to drive the brand’s outstanding bakery profitability.”

Sweet gig of ‘bringing joy to people’s lives’

To Nothing Bundt Cakes’s leadership mix, Berle brings a strong track record for profitable revenue growth, unit expansion, digital transformation, data-driven decision-making and a deep commitment to organizational culture and values, the company said. Berle also has been appointed to the Nothing Bundt Cakes Board.

Earlier this year, the company celebrated its milestone 500th bakery opening. It continues to grow with an average of eight new bakery openings per month and is on track to open 100 bakeries this year, the company said.

“Nothing Bundt Cakes has quietly become the leading specialty cake bakery brand in the nation, driven by its dedication to bringing joy to people’s lives,” Berle said in a statement. “Our growth is a reflection of our remarkable bakery owners and talented team members, and I look forward to leading them to new heights as we continue growing together.”

Founded in 1997, Dallas-based Nothing Bundt Cakes operates more than 500 franchised and corporate bakeries in more than 40 states and Canada.

The company offers handcrafted Bundt cakes for pickup or delivery in a variety of flavors and sizes, such as Bundtinis, the brand’s cupcake-sized Bundt cakes, miniature Bundtlets and 8- and 10-inch bundt cakes. They offer decorations and gift options for life’s “just because” moments and special celebrations.

Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.

Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.

One quick signup, and you’re done.  

R E A D   N E X T

  • Addison-based Nothing Bundt Cakes just opened a new bakery in Shawnee, Kansas. Bundt wait—there's more. It's no ordinary opening, because the new bakery marks the 500th Nothing Bundt Cakes location in the U.S. and Canada. And the milestone won't stand for long: The company says it plans to continue "its rapid expansion."

  • Topgolf, the golf entertainment company based in Dallas, has launched its largest-ever global brand campaign. Inviting everyone to "Come Play Around," the campaign includes this 60-second spot that shows everyone from a priest to long-bearded bikers to an Afro-topped karate kicker getting their swing on at a Topgolf venue. "We're making the game of golf more inclusive and open for all to enjoy," said Chief Brand Officer Geoff Cottrill, "and this campaign celebrates different people and personalities from all over the world coming together and enjoying a little golf… and a little of our 'not golf.'"  Led by New York-based agency…

  • The announcement means Special Olympics athletes will be able to compete in Topgolf as an individual or with a team through Special Olympics Unified Sports, which brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team for training and competition.

  • Topgolf has 70 driving range game venues as far-flung as Germany, Australia, and Dubai. But now it's launched a mobile game you can play anywhere. "Shankstars" features a club-wielding UFO alien, a Tee-Wrex skeleton, a punk goddess, mermaid, and more playing on courses strewn with volcanos, pyramids, and giant waterfall-spewing skulls. "Shankstars is a perfect example of how we're focused on enabling more people to have fun and enjoy the game of golf in their own way," says Topgolf CEO Artie Starrs.

  • HundredX—an AI-powered, crowd-sourced market share strategy company based in Addison—gives money to nonprofits in exchange for feedback from the nonprofits' community members on the more than 2,500 businesses on HundredX’s platform. Result: Companies get "ethically sourced" consumer data, while consumers get to "give without spending." That win-win has now led to over $10 million in donations to 700+ nonprofits—including nearly 20 in Dallas alone.