Tesla Inc. paid a Silicon Valley pie shop after a furor that erupted on social media over its last-minute cancellation of a large catering order caught the attention of CEO Elon Musk.
The saga also has created a boom in new business for The Giving Pies, a bakery in San Jose, Calif., that says its clients include Google, Amazon, Apple and the San Francisco 49ers.
Shop owner Voahangy Rasetarinera wrote on Facebook that she had turned down other customers, arranged for her staff to work around the clock and spent $2,000 on ingredients. Tesla originally ordered 2,000 mini pies, then doubled its request before ultimately canceling.
“When you’re a big corporation, $2,000 is pocket money, it’s nothing,” Rasetarinera told ABC 7 in San Francisco. “But for us, it’s a lot.”
As her complaint went viral, Musk responded on X, the social media platform he owns. “Just hearing about this,” he wrote. “Will make things good with the bakery. People should always be able to count on Tesla trying its best.”
Rasetarinera later confirmed to local media that Tesla paid the $2,000 its order cost her. She said the electric vehicle maker asked her to cater several events in March, but she declined because the shop has been inundated by customers who heard about the situation and wanted to support her.
“It’s so heartwarming. I’m so super grateful,” Rasetarinera said. “I don’t think I have any words to use to say how grateful I am.”