Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Ingvardsen.
Hi Sara, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
After moving to Florida in 2020 for my now husband, Seaborn, I struggled with a bit of a culture shock. Being third-generation Swedish means I was raised with the beautiful culture my family members lived and breathed and brought to America. I also grew up in an area influenced by a Scandinavian settlement. This meant I had the privilege of nearby Scandinavian restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, festivals, and gift shops, always at my expense! Making my beloved family recipes, participating in our holiday traditions, and feeling immersed in my culture was part of my daily life. Once in Florida, I struggled not only with the lack of Scandinavian influence and culture but also without my family 3,000 miles away! My husband then commented, “Well, why don’t you introduce the culture to Orlando?” After thinking about this for a bit and wondering what this decision would entail, we made the daunting jump. We started Scandi Bakery with the decision to focus on delicious traditional Swedish treats. This passion turned business has not only helped us to feel closer to our family that has passed on and family far away, but it has also been an exciting and fulfilling process to introduce our Swedish culture to Central Florida and get involved with our community. We are the only Swedish Bakery in Central Florida!
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every new business has its bumps! We are still in our infancy, being only in our first year of business! This year has been filled with highs and lows as we balance our passion with the needs of our customer base. This isn’t just a business for us; it’s our culture. Putting your heart into something often results in taking it personally! It’s essential to ensure our business’s growth and impact on those we are privileged to meet. We want to brighten your day with conversation and connection, motivate you to explore exciting flavors, try something new, and share a piece of our family with you! Breaking into the incredible food scene of Central Florida has been a challenging and often competitive process. With our drive and passion for our business, we are excited about what the future holds for Scandi Bakery.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Our specialty is Swedish Cinnamon Rolls! These delicious pastries are filled with a generous amount of aromatic cardamom and cinnamon and finished with crunchy pearl sugar that we import from Sweden! This is the most popular treat in Sweden and actually dates back to the 1900s as the first-ever recorded Cinnamon Roll! Unlike the American Cinnamon Roll, these buns focus on flavor over sweetness. Without distracting icings, we can introduce your pallet to the flavors that are inside our buttery filling and our dough as well! This also allows us to limit the amount of sugar added to our buns and put the focus on real ingredients and real flavors. We also offer a rotating menu with monthly seasonal flavors that coincide with the Florida crop seasons, allowing you to try something new every month!
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
Our advice for those interested in exploring a new opportunity is to have fun with it! Remind yourself often of your mission statement and the purpose this venture serves, not only for yourself but those you have an impact on. Usually, this means staying involved with our family and community back home to be reminded of why we started this business and to get as much love and support as we can, even from far away!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scandibakery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095079146746
