German Couple Brings Authentic Baked Goods to Florida Bakery

Bread Pete Bakery owners Gerhart and Melanie Wassink face tariff challenges but remain committed to quality and customer satisfaction.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Gerhart and Melanie Wassink, a German couple, moved from Hamburg to Cape Coral, Florida a year and a half ago to take over Bread Pete Bakery. While the American dream has come with its own set of challenges, including long working hours and increased costs from tariffs on imported ingredients, the Wassinks remain dedicated to their craft and providing an authentic European baking experience for their customers.

Why it matters

The story highlights the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of immigrant small business owners who are willing to take on challenges to pursue their dreams. It also touches on the broader economic impacts of trade policies, such as tariffs, on local businesses that rely on imported goods.

The details

The Wassinks moved their family, including two daughters, from Germany to the U.S. to take over Bread Pete Bakery in Cape Coral. They work long hours, starting around 6 a.m. and closing at 2 p.m., but their workday doesn't end there. The bakery imports the majority of its ingredients, like flour, from Europe to ensure quality and authenticity. However, tariffs have driven up the cost of these imports, squeezing the Wassinks' profit margins. Despite this, they are absorbing the increased costs and maintaining the same prices for customers.

  • The Wassinks moved to the U.S. and took over Bread Pete Bakery a year and a half ago.
  • The bakery is open Monday through Friday.

The players

Gerhart Wassink

Co-owner of Bread Pete Bakery in Cape Coral, Florida, who moved with his family from Hamburg, Germany to the U.S. a year and a half ago.

Melanie Wassink

Co-owner of Bread Pete Bakery in Cape Coral, Florida, who moved with her family from Hamburg, Germany to the U.S. a year and a half ago.

Bread Pete Bakery

A bakery in Cape Coral, Florida that the Wassink family took over a year and a half ago after moving from Hamburg, Germany.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We were at a certain point where we wanted to change our life. Instead of moving from Hamburg to Munich, we made a bigger change, and we moved over here to the United States. Taking over this bakery was a great opportunity to start a new life here in the United States.”

— Gerhart Wassink, Co-owner, Bread Pete Bakery (wbaltv.com)

“We are starting in the morning very early, around about 6. And we are closing at 2, but that's not the end of our working day.”

— Melanie Wassink, Co-owner, Bread Pete Bakery (wbaltv.com)

“Certain things and certain ingredients became more expensive. But we focus on quality and try to maintain the consistency of, for our customers. So, tariffs are impacting us.”

— Gerhart Wassink, Co-owner, Bread Pete Bakery (wbaltv.com)

What’s next

The Wassinks plan to continue operating Bread Pete Bakery and absorbing the increased costs from tariffs in order to maintain their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

The takeaway

This story highlights the challenges immigrant entrepreneurs face in pursuing the American dream, from long hours to navigating trade policies, but also their resilience and dedication to providing an authentic experience for their customers.