KEIT

Kolja, please tell us about the team behind KEIT and how KEIT came to be.

​

Thanos and I worked at adidas for 12 years, spending the last three years in the same department of the company. We are both big food enthusiasts, and at some point, I started baking sourdough bread during my spare time. Obviously, Thanos would occasionally get to enjoy the bread. We were working in a department focused on new business models, until there was a change in leadership and the department was shut down. Consequently, we had to decide whether to return to the core business to remain with the company, or seize the moment to start something of our own. At that time, Thanos had a deep conversation with his parents about the topic of bread and was very moved by the emotional and cultural significance it holds. Combining my passion for the craft of making brad and his cultural, emotional experience, inspired us to dive into the subject.

 

 

What values do you pursue as a company?

​

KEIT stands for the suffix of a multitude of German nouns (e.g. Fähigkeit, Gemeinsamkeit, etc.). We chose the name because it is a short, sounding four letter word, but also embodies the values we want to stand for. At our core, we have chosen sustainability, reliability, and gratitude as our values.

​

Sustainability (in German: Nachhaltig-KEIT )

​

KEIT uses natural ingredients sourced from family-run businesses within a 100-kilometer radius around Berlin – on a global scale, that’s so close that we consider it local. This allows us to promote and demand responsible use of resources. At the same time, sustainability reflects our belief that a long journey – as we have planned – can only be based on long-term and friendly relationships.

​

Reliability (in German: Zuverlässig-KEIT)

​

We believe that we can achieve consistency and familiarity outwardly by consistently producing all our products at the highest level of quality. At the same time, we believe that this demand requires high quality in internal operations as well – both in craftsmanship and in human interactions.

​

Gratitude (in German: Dankbar-KEIT)

​

KEIT is made possible by our partners, our customers, and of course, our employees, who all share our philosophy and join us in a sort of destiny community for a good cause – for which we feel great gratitude. We are equally grateful for the natural resources that the

Berlin area provides us – and for the great fortune that we get to do exactly what we love every day.

You source your ingredients from within a 100-kilometer radius around Berlin. Should we focus more on the local?

​

Ultimately, that’s something everyone has to decide for themselves. For us, it has always been important to make an impact where we are. Building long-term relationships with people and partners locally. Doing something that stands for the "here" and can only happen here. Many things (no matter where you are) are becoming increasingly similar, no matter if you are in London, New York, or Tokyo. We wanted to create something unique for Berlin (our location), something that can only happen here. There are so many possibilities and the surroundings of Berlin offer such a huge diversity in terms of food and agriculture nowadays. You’re more likely to be surprised by what’s available right on your doorstep and what’s possible. That’s where we wanted to start. The question was always, "What kind of city do we actually want to live in?" And that automatically led us to the topic of having an impact where we are.

 

 

You yourselves are not bakers. What gave you the courage to open yet another bakery?

​

Since we didn’t have a background or perhaps preconceived notions about bread, bakeries, or craftsmanship, we were able to approach the subject rather freely and openly.

Which grains to use, how a bakery should look like, how many types of bread should we offer, what opening hours should we apply, etc. Of course, we work together with a team in the bakery as we are not professional bakers Ourselves (also due to the master craftsman requirement). But what gave us courage was the fact that there were many people joining our team who loved our focus on "just" baking bread and also had the motivation to specialize personally. On the customer side, people appreciated the focus just as much and realized that we do less but do it right. Since there were more and more of these people, it gave us the courage to keep moving forward.

What fascinates you about bread?

​

So simple (just flour, water, salt), yet so special, satisfying, warming. So simple, yet so complex. So multifaceted – crust, crumb, acidity, grain. Simple but complex (multifaceted).

​

​

What has bread taught you?

​

Bread connects. Everyone has a connection to it. No matter the culture, nationality, age, or gender. Everyone loves bread, and it is such a unifying element. Just put a loaf of bread with some oil or butter on the table, and people will be happy.

 

 

Focus seems essential to you, whether in the limited selection of bread varieties you offer, your clear values and guidelines, or the minimalist interior of your shops. What does focus mean to you?

​

Focus is essential to what we do. We don’t want to make any compromises. That requires focus. Focus helps us to find people who are interested in specializing in the topic of bread. It helps us to find the right partners for our grains and other ingredients. It helps us position ourselves and give customers the opportunity to understand what we’re all about. We prefer to do less but better. Once you start doing too much, mediocrity starts to creep in. We really don’t want that to happen.

​

​

Good craftsmanship is experiencing a true renaissance. What do you think will become increasingly important to people in their work?

​

Tactile, sensory experiences. Experiencing direct feedback. With more and more technology, many things are becoming simpler, which is helpful on one hand and saves time. But it often distances you from the human, sensory level. In craftsmanship, you "feel" yourself and are in direct contact with mind, body, and senses.

​

​

Bread is...

​

deepest satisfaction.

​

​

And finally, your three favorite food spots in Berlin?

​

Omoni - Kopenhagener Straße
Otto
Kitten Deli