Check Out Natalia Iakovleva’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia Iakovleva.

Hi Natalia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We are two families from Ukraine who were forced to leave our homeland because of the war. Having lost everything, we made the decision to start a new life here in Midland, Michigan.

After meeting each other, we combined our experience and passion for baking to create a unique artisan bakery. We make everything from scratch, using only the finest and highest-quality ingredients.

We deeply care about the health of our customers and take pride in offering fresh baked goods every single day. But our mission goes beyond that — we strive to support the local community by creating jobs and helping retain talented young professionals in Midland. We pay fair wages, provide training, and invest in the growth of our employees to make sure the most valuable people stay and thrive in our city.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Starting over in a new country is always a challenge, but opening a business in a new environment comes with even more responsibility.

The main financial resources invested in our bakery came from donations from the people of Midland and a loan supported by the Midland Foundation. We take this support very seriously — it’s a huge responsibility for us.

One of the biggest challenges was the building itself. We had to renovate about 90% of the space to turn it into what it is today. To save money, we did a lot of the work with our own hands. It wasn’t easy — it took time, hard work, and a lot of learning along the way.

But despite all the difficulties, we are proud of what we’ve built — not only a bakery, but a place that brings people together and contributes to the community.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are professionals with 18 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Over the years, we have not only developed our own skills but also focused on training and mentoring young people who are just starting their careers.

For the past 18 years, we have been deeply involved in employee development, psychology, and building strong, motivated teams. We believe that a successful business is not only about products, but about people — and we are proud to help young professionals grow, improve their skills, and reach their full potential

What matters most to you?
People. People are what matter the most to us.

We believe that life is about people — their stories, their kindness, their talents, and their potential. No matter how difficult the journey, it’s the people around you who inspire you to keep going.

That’s exactly why we do what we do. Our bakery is not just about bread or pastries — it’s about people. It’s about the team we build, the young professionals we train, the customers we serve, and the community we are part of.

We’ve seen how a simple act of support, a fair workplace, or a fresh loaf of bread can brighten someone’s day and make them feel valued. We are here because people believed in us — and now we believe in others.

For us, success isn’t measured only by business growth, but by the positive impact we have on people’s lives. That’s what truly matters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Sergeysbakery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sergeysbakery?igsh=bzFsMmVxdWkyMHB0
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15nUyJ3rnv/?mibextid=wwXIfr