VRIJEME JE ZA GOSPODARSTVO Emira Jakupović

Imagine producing 25 million baklavas a year, or nearly 70,000 every single day, from a factory just outside Zagreb. This isn't a family-run artisan shop; it's the largest baklava factory in the European Union, founded by an intriguing pair of investors: a Cypriot Greek and a Cypriot Turk. Their unlikely partnership, as host Darko Buković notes, proves that "money and business have nothing to do with nationality, only with a good business plan." Mira Jakupović, the CEO of New Bakery, has been at the helm of this operation, navigating the complexities of scaling a traditional delicacy for demanding global markets. She shares how personal connections influenced the company's Croatian roots, the intricate dance of satisfying stringent international quality standards, and the unexpected logistical headaches posed by events like Brexit. This conversation offers a rare look into how a niche product can achieve industrial scale, revealing the strategic decisions, supply chain challenges, and human elements that underpin global food production. You will walk away with a clearer understanding of how to balance tradition with modern manufacturing, and how to build a business that transcends borders and cultural divides.