Feliks Sowa and his wife Stanisława, open their first bakery in the old town house on Pomorska Street in Bydgoszcz. The bakery, and later also a confectionery, has successfully operated to this day. Beginnings aren’t easy. Strict national system, absolute rules, lack of stock or working hands and a very limited craft – those are just some of the challenges that we have to battle. All this encourages us even more, generating fresh ideas.
The post-war period, and the beginnings of the communistic era turn out to be very difficult for any kind of self-owned business. Demand is growing, but getting a sufficient amount of needed ingredients is a real challenge. “Food rationing was so low at that time, that the most needed flour or sugar had to be bought in a regular store, and because such merchandise was limited equally for everyone, we had to manoeuver a lot. Everybody helped: family, friends and sometimes even some kind strangers. 5 kg in every 10 stores or so, it was really something!” – says Stanisława Sowa.
The bakery operates so well, that the owners decide to employ their first workers: one helps with the production, the other one runs the shop. But soon even they can’t catch up with a rapid stream of daily work. More apprentices and a journeyman are hired. After 67 years Cukiernia Sowa employs over 550 experienced and specialized workers, able to successfully compete with the biggest pastry and confectionery authorities in the world.
Feliks Sowa receives his Pastry Master’s degree. Using traditional home recipes, he bakes his first, original cake. Back then cakes with lots of often much too sweet and thick cream are the most popular. Baker’s intuition tells Feliks, that such a delicacy should be light and simple. Soft sponge cake, over fruity jam, covered with dense milk chocolate quickly becomes a hit!
“We were very lucky” – says Stanisława Sowa. “Our bakery was rather small and the government allowed us to run our own busines, because they put a strategic hope in such small but efficient food manufacturers. We were operating under national protection. Back then, many similar private ventures were either closed or taken over. The idea was simple: if, in case of national danger, a big and centralised bakery was destroyed, damage would be huge and effective. Small manufactures, scattered all around the country, guaranteed a much safer option. Post-war conflicts lasted for a very long time, and therefore nothing was certain.” – she adds.
Our offer is still quite poor. Only 5 different kinds of pastries and not many more types of bread. Reason? Obligatory national permission for literally every smallest crumb. Also limited and deficient recipes, a norm back then, made tastes that we know so very well today, simply impossible to achieve.
Adam Sowa, the younger son of Feliks and Stanisława, tempted with exceptional bakery aromas and involved in intensive help, joins the family business. A year later, just like his father, he receives Pastry Master’s degree. As he says, even though he chose to study construction, pastry defined his way of living. Baker’s work requires sacrifice. Day and night.
Recognition of the brand grows higher. More satisfied customers spread the good word. Golden doughnuts with homemade fruit preserves become a sensation! Decision is made: first branch store is opened. Soon Sowa’s baked goods can be bought on Bydgoszcz Grain Market.
Adam Sowa and his wife form a business partnership. New name for the company is given: Pastry & Bakery Adam Sowa. The company grows, employing more people and creating a new range of products. Of course under the Master’s experienced eye.
Idea of a place, where one could enjoy delicious cake to a freshly ground, aromatic coffee, becomes real. First coffee shop by Adam Sowa opens on Dworcowa Street and quickly becomes the most favourite meeting place in Bydgoszcz.
By the end of 1997, construction of the second and bigger production facility begins. Growing appetite for our confectionery becomes demanding: lack of space, people and much needed equipment basically don’t leave a choice. New facility, after a significant expansion, opens a year later on Schulza Street in Bydgoszcz. Today it’s the company’s headquarters.
New production possibilities let us develop our new stores, often with characteristic, stylish interiors and functionality of a coffee shop. Dacquise, Royal Slice and original cupcakes quickly become acclaimed favourites and symbols of the brand. Many of the stores are located in shopping malls in Bydgoszcz and Toruń, which, as turns out later, is one of the company’s best marketing decisions.
In the heart of the city, on Mostowa Street, our first restaurant with the original menu and climatic winery is opened. International cuisine from around the world with a distinct accent of home-made Polish food is served, marking a whole new chapter in our history.
Bydgoszcz residents gradually become part of the global culture, bringing their tradition onto European grounds. Sowa’s sweet goods are its inherent worth. Our stores abroad are opened. First in London, then 4 years later in Berlin. Soon we also open our first cake and coffee shop in Warsaw. Hot ‘coffee as you fly’ at Chmielna becomes a stylish trend on the main streets of the Polish capital.
More than half of a century of our sweet tradition is really a lot of valuable time. Festive celebration seems to be so well deserved. Our dear guests pass on their appreciation by supporting those most in need. A beautiful gesture for a good cause and... a great party until dawn. Sweets and smiles for everyone!
We took the decision to modify the visual identity of the patisserie. In order to refer to tradition and emphasise the patisserie brand, we have made changes to the logo, or graphic design, of Sowa Patisserie. We have also unified the colour scheme. From now on, the logo is based on a warm brown associated with the taste of chocolate.
We took a bold decision: the partial reconstruction of the pre-war appearance of Mostowa Street. The result? A brand new, three-storey townhouse, with a modernist shape and a reference to classical style. With an exclusive restaurant, an atmospheric bistro, a café and a trendy music club. Today, it is not only our pride, but also a recognised and recognisable landmark of Bydgoszcz.
A year later, we took up yet another challenge: our own proprietary chocolate brand, something that very few can boast today. Our original recipe was created in Paris, under the tutelage of the greatest connoisseurs of dense sweetness, and is now a closely guarded sweet family secret.
There comes a point when the next generation of the family takes over the main management responsibilities. Aleksandra and Michal Sowa join as co-owners, receiving not only the responsibilities but also the passion that has defined our brand for years. Aleksandra, a confectionery master, guarantees the quality of the production. Inspired by her travels, she creates unique flavours that take customers on an unforgettable journey. Michał, also a confectionery master, heads up sales and marketing, adding creativity and love for coffee, enhancing customers' enjoyment of the brand. Their contribution is a step into a new era for the company, crucial for future growth.
The increasing popularity of the company's cafés has inspired us to come up with another groundbreaking idea: a brand of fresh, aromatic coffee, roasted using traditional methods in our own roasting house. Sowa Caffè is a carefully selected 100% blend of the finest Arabica from the South and Central American regions, delicate in flavour, with a distinct aftertaste of chocolate, baked bread, almonds and dried fruit. The perfect complement for our cakes and desserts.
Italy, on 19 January 2014, we took third place at the "Coppa del Mondo della Gelateria" Ice World Championships held in the Italian city of Rimini. In addition, our team consisting of Aleksandra Sowa, Paweł Małecki, Michał Doroszkiewicz, Maciej Pięta and Mariusz Buritta were awarded a special prize in the best ice sculpture category.
Every day, Sowa Patisserie offers bespoke cakes, pastries, desserts, ice creams and baked goods without stopping its development. On 20 June 2018, we opened our 160th point of sale located in a shopping centre Galeria Słoneczna in Radom. Since then, more places have been consistently opened, where our customers can try sweet baked goods.
We are introducing a new type of chocolate to Poland. This extraordinary sweet with a characteristic pink color is created using RUBY cocoa beans without the addition of dyes and flavors. It owes its unique shade to roasting the beans in an appropriate way, without the fermentation stage. The chocolate has fresh, acidic notes of blackberries and raspberries.
In 2018, we surprised customers with some revolutionary changes. In addition to the traditional cakes and pastries came a healthy lunch option. Nutritious sandwiches, healthy salads, delicious bagels and light desserts have entered the Sowa Lunch range. The novelty immediately gained popularity, responding to current trends and consumer expectations. This is a clear step towards offering not only excellent sweets, but also healthy and tasty meals for our guests.
In October, we took part in the famous World Confectioners Championships in Italy organised by the Federazione Italiana di Pasticceria, Gelateria e Cioccolateria. The prestigious title and the honourable first place went to Jowita Woszczyńska, working together with Paweł Małecki in the decorating department of Sowa Patisserie. She decorated her cake with motifs alluding to paintings by leading representatives of Young Poland: Jacek Malczewski and Władysław Ślewiński.
We made sure that we prepared the next generation of confectioners to work in our patisseries. We have signed an agreement to create a patronal class of the Sowa Patisserie in the Craft and Entrepreneurship First Level Vocational School in Bydgoszcz to this end. The swearing-in ceremony with the legendary sword of Jan Kiliński was carried out by distinguished guild masters. Students in the confectionery class started learning to bake treats using tried and tested family recipes from September 1.
To meet the expectations of our guests, we are introducing a new crisp offering called 'Tasty from the Oven'. This concept is an extension of our range of warm breads and sweet baked goods straight from the oven, perfectly complementing our standard offer. From now on, everyone can enjoy the freshly baked buns, bread and snacks available at their favourite Sowa Patisserie.
During the difficult times of the pandemic, Sowa Patisserie continued its dynamic growth with innovative interior design standards. The modern and spacious design of our premises truly enhances our customer experience. During this period, we launched an online shop, offering access to our unique baked goods online as well. In addition, bearing the convenience of our customers in mind, we have expanded our range to include high-quality takeaway dishes, which have ideally responded to the needs of consumers during the pandemic period. This is just one stage in our development and creation of the unique taste experience and atmosphere that is associated with the Sowa Patisserie brand.