We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Briana Contreras a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Briana, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I didn’t go looking for my purpose — it found me in the middle of uncertainty, motherhood, and prayer. I started baking pan dulce during a season when we were relying daily on God to provide following a layoff. I had no savings, no storefront, not even a mixer, just my hands and a few ingredients, my kids underfoot, and a dream that maybe—just maybe—this could be something more.
What I thought was just about baking turned into something deeper: reconnecting with my culture, my faith, and creating moments of peace and joy in other people’s homes. Bread has become a ministry for me. A daily provision. A tangible reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Now we’re on a mission to transform the pan dulce industry. We’re bringing the traditional pan you love with a wholesome twist. We hold true to our values and our mission — to nourish both body and soul through handmade pan dulce rooted in tradition, faith, and clean ingredients. We believe in honoring our culture, serving our community, and creating space at the table for connection, beauty, and daily provision — one panecito, and one story at a time.
We are committed to baking with integrity, using simple, whole ingredients, and offering each customer more than just bread — but a moment of joy, remembrance, and grace.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m the founder and head baker of Panaderia Contreras, a small-batch, faith-rooted pan dulce bakery based in Menifee, California. What began as a way to provide for my family in a season of uncertainty has grown into something far more meaningful: a business built on tradition, clean ingredients, and daily provision — both physical and spiritual.
We specialize in handmade pan dulce like conchas, puerquitos, elotes, and seasonal loaves — all made with real ingredients (organic unbleached unenriched flour, no seed oils, no gums, no fillers, no dyes or anything artificial), and crafted with the care you’d expect from your abuelita’s kitchen. Our offerings include gluten-free and “Crunchy Mom” standard options for customers who care deeply about what goes into their bodies and their homes.
What makes our bakery unique is that we’re not just selling bread — we’re creating a moment of connection. A taste of culture. A reminder of home. Our tagline is “Give us today our daily bread,” and that really is the heart of what we do — trusting God to provide and doing our part to feed others with joy, faith, and flavor.
Right now, we’re preparing to expand our reach through pop-up pan dulce carts and new collaborative offerings — including a gluten-free, dairy free and refined sugar free concha line and collaborations with a local raw honey business and an organic cottage coffee shop . Every step forward has been a leap of faith, and I’m excited to keep building something rooted in purpose and community.
Whether you’re ordering for your family, your café, or your next celebration, we’d love to be part of your table.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been faith, resourcefulness, and willingness to grow.
Faith grounded me when things didn’t make sense. I had no investors, no storefront — just my hands, my family, and the belief that if God gave me the vision, He would provide the way. My advice? Don’t wait to feel fully “ready.” Start small, stay faithful, and walk with purpose — even when you can’t see the full path.
Resourcefulness helped me build a business with what I had. I learned to stretch every ingredient, turn a pickup into a delivery system, and make my kitchen double as my bakery. If you’re just starting, don’t get overwhelmed by what you don’t have — use what’s already in your hands, and keep showing up.
Willingness to grow — both personally and professionally — has been crucial. From pricing to packaging to navigating imposter syndrome, I’ve had to learn (and unlearn) a lot. If you’re early in your journey, stay humble, ask questions, and be open to coaching, correction, and change. Growth often looks like discomfort first.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes! At Panaderia Contreras, we’re always open to meaningful collaborations — especially with businesses and individuals who share our values around community, faith, wellness, and cultural connection. We’re currently excited about partnering with local coffee carts, wellness-focused events, clean ingredient brands, and family-owned businesses who believe in quality and purpose-driven work.
If you’re interested in collaborating — whether through events, pop-ups, product bundles, or community outreach — we’d love to hear from you. You can connect with us on Instagram @panaderia.contreras.bc or email us at panaderia.contreras.b@gmail.com.
Let’s create something beautiful together!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panaderia.contreras.bc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Panader%C3%ADa-Contreras/61564999379018/#
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/panaderiacontreras
Image Credits
Estefania Galvez
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