German Couple Brings Authentic Baking to Florida Bakery

Gerhart and Melanie Wassink overcome long hours and tariffs to pursue their American dream.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Gerhart and Melanie Wassink, a German couple, moved to the United States a year and a half ago and took over Bread Pete Bakery in Cape Coral, Florida. Despite challenges like long working hours and increased costs from tariffs on imported ingredients, the Wassinks remain committed to their craft, continuing to import the majority of their ingredients from Europe to ensure authenticity and quality.

Why it matters

The Wassinks' story highlights the resilience and determination of immigrant entrepreneurs pursuing the American dream, even in the face of obstacles. Their bakery serves as a testament to the value that international businesses can bring to local communities.

The details

The Wassinks moved from Hamburg, Germany, to the U.S. with their two daughters, seeking a new life and opportunity. They took over Bread Pete Bakery, which has required them to work long hours, often starting at 6 a.m. and closing at 2 p.m., but not finishing their workday until much later. Additionally, tariffs have driven up the cost of key imported ingredients like flour, but the Wassinks have chosen to absorb these increased costs to maintain the same prices for customers and ensure the quality and authenticity of their baked goods.

  • 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, and a German immigrant.

Melanie Wassink

Co-owner of Bread Pete Bakery in Cape Coral, Florida, and a German immigrant.

Bread Pete Bakery

A bakery in Cape Coral, Florida, that the Wassink family took over after moving from Germany.

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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 (wgal.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 (wgal.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 (wgal.com)

“It makes me really happy to see also happy customers. It's also fun to work with my employees. We have also a good customer working culture here. It's friendly. It's a family-style.”

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

The takeaway

The Wassinks' story demonstrates the resilience and determination of immigrant entrepreneurs who are willing to overcome challenges to pursue their American dream. Their commitment to quality and authenticity, even in the face of increased costs, is a testament to the value that international businesses can bring to local communities.