Meet Aria Savadkouei | Baker and Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aria Savadkouei and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aria, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Aria Breads is about a year old, but the thought process behind it really spans the last decade of my life.

In college, I became deeply infatuated with the craft of sourdough baking. What started as curiosity quickly turned into obsession. I studied it meticulously, learned every detail I could, and spent years baking for family and friends. The feedback was always “you should open a bakery” and that more tables deserved real artisan bread made with genuine care.

After college, I began pursuing a more conventional career path in marketing. And as I climbed the corporate ladder, that entrepreneurial itch never went away. Deep down, I knew building something of my own was likely my path.

The farther I progressed in my career, the farther I felt from my true path. In my late twenties, I had a realization: one day, it might simply be too late to pursue what I always felt I was meant to do. So I decided to test it. I got my cottage food permit and started selling bread locally, initially just to see whether this was something I could truly love as a profession, not just as a passion.

Quickly, that little experiment turned into something much bigger. Before I knew it, I was working day and night, participating in farmers markets, supplying bread and pastries to growing partners across Southern California, expanding my reach, and planning the next stage of the business. And through it all, I’ve genuinely never been happier.

On a deeper level, this business is about more than bread. Hospitality is in my blood. My appreciation for bread, its tradition, its culture, and its ability to nourish and bring people together, was instilled in me from an early age, especially through my grandmother. She passed down not only a love for feeding others, but an attention to detail and a belief that true care can be expressed through what you create.

That’s ultimately become our north star: Care is the product. Bread is the medium.

Today, Aria Breads exists to honor that philosophy through uncompromising quality, craftsmanship, and the simple but powerful act of bringing exceptional bread and pastries back to people’s tables.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Aria Breads was built on the belief that exceptional food is about far more than taste alone, it’s about the entire experience.

What truly sets us apart is our uncompromising commitment to quality at every touchpoint. From ingredient sourcing to fermentation, shaping, baking, packaging, communication, and customer relationships, every detail matters. We believe small details are never small, because collectively, they define how people experience your brand.

Our products are made with minimal, high-quality ingredients and a deep respect for both tradition and innovation. We focus heavily on sourdough and artisan techniques not simply because they create better flavor, but because they represent patience, craftsmanship, and integrity, values that define our business.

But more than anything, we are in the business of care.

Whether we’re serving a large multi-location retail partner or a family next door picking up bread for dinner, our goal is exactly the same: we want people to feel genuinely cared for. We want every customer to feel like they are receiving something made with intention, pride, and personal investment, not something transactional or mass-produced.

Our north star is simple: Care is the product. Bread is the medium.

Getting to where we are today has absolutely not been easy. Building a food business from the ground up requires relentless effort, adaptability, and sacrifice. There have been long days, sleepless nights, operational hurdles, and constant pressure to maintain standards while growing quickly. But every challenge has reinforced one of the most important lessons I’ve learned: growth means nothing if quality is compromised.

One of the biggest challenges has been scaling while preserving the integrity of what makes us special. It’s easy to cut corners in pursuit of faster expansion, but we’ve remained disciplined in protecting product quality, customer trust, and our values above all else.

These lessons have been invaluable:

Quality must remain non-negotiable
Systems matter as much as passion
Relationships are everything
Growth should be intentional, not reckless
And above all, genuine care creates lasting loyalty

What I’m most proud of is that Aria Breads has grown not because I chased trends, but because we’ve stayed deeply committed to craftsmanship, hospitality, and creating something meaningful.

What I want the world to know is that Aria Breads is not simply a bakery. It’s a brand built on heritage, discipline, artistry, and care. We are here to elevate everyday experiences through exceptional bread and pastries, while reminding people that the products they bring to their tables can, and should, be made with heart. “People always remember how you made them feel.” my grandmother used to say, and that sentenced has guided our philosophy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It’s funny, because this scenario has happened many times. I’d encourage my friends to stay somewhere near the beach in OC. From there, they can visit all the coastal towns along the PCH from San Clemente all the way up to Malibu. One day needs to be dedicated to DTLA and Griffith Park. Another day could be dedicated to the West side of LA. 1-2 days in San Diego. Food-wise, must-haves are street tacos, sushi, Persian food, fish tacos in San Diego, French Dip sandwich at Phillipe The Original, and In-n-Out. In general, my focus would on the natural landscapes of the area (beaches, mountains, urban areas) as well as the cultural diversity.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, my family. My mother, father, and brother for their unwavering support both physically and mentally. Secondly, all of my customers and friends, who have encouraged me to continue on this path. And lastly, a great source of inspiration for this pursuit was the book Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, so i’d like to give credit there and more importantly the Howlin’ Ray’s crew in Pasadena for recommending the book.

Website: https://ariabreads.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariabreads/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aria-breads/?viewAsMember=true