Sprinkles Cupcakes, which sold from vending machines, closes

Sprinkles Cupcakes, the specialty chain that started out in a private kitchen and grew to fuel a craze for cupcakes sold in bakeries and ATM-like vending machines that played a song with each sale, is no more.

- CHRISTINE HAUSER

A woman buys cupcakes from a Sprinkles vending machine in New York in 2014. Sprinkles Cupcakes sold treats 24/7 through its ATM-style vending machines.

(AFP)

Candace Nelson, a founder, announced that the treats were going away, saying on social media that the company’s final day was last Wednesday. Ms Nelson sold the California-based business to a private equity firm, KarpReilly LLC in 2012. Neither she nor the firm explained the reason for the chain's closure.

“As many of you know, I started Sprinkles in 2005 with a KitchenAid mixer and a big idea,” Ms Nelson said on Instagram. While she no longer has a role in the business, she added, “it’s surreal to see this chapter come to a close — and it’s not how I imagined the story would unfold.”

On Friday, the company's website showed there were “no products’ available for nationwide shipping. An offer for a New Year’s Eve dozen cupcakes went to a “page not found.”

“When it’s gone, it’s gone,’ the locations link said.