Nearly 25 years ago, Cindy Kienzle created a chocolate chip banana bread recipe that friends, family and co-workers loved. Everyone told her she should sell it. Fate intervened, and The Hungry Monkey Baking Company started almost by accident after Cindy lost her job in 2008 as an executive at a large public agency. She started selling her most popular items at two local farmers’ markets in the northern suburbs of Chicago. The cakes/breads and brownies became an instant hit; three months later a Chicago suburban boutique grocery chain, Sunset Foods, asked to carry her cakes in all of their stores. Soon after, Potash Market/Clark Street in downtown Chicago and Mariano's Fresh Markets, Whole Foods, Fresh Picks also became outlets. The Hungry Monkey is now also available in 60 Whole Foods Markets (throughout the Midwest and Canada), which carry The Hungry Monkey Lemon Tea Cake and Pumpkin Bread (seasonally).