Hanna Pekarchuk: 'The Bakery School has graduated its first cohort'
Part two of the conversation with Hanna Pekarchuk — on the graduation of the first Pekarska Shkola cohort and how these 20 bakers will change the Ukrainian bread landscape.
In January 2026 Pekarska Shkola at Kyiv's Petrus graduated its first cohort — 20 bakers who completed a year-long apprenticeship. Our second conversation with Hanna Pekarchuk is a summary one. 'This is a historic moment for Ukrainian bread culture,' Hanna says. 'Twenty young bakers means 20 potential bakeries which should be born across Ukraine over the next 5 years. A systemic effect.'
Of the 20 graduates: 7 have already received jobs in existing bakeries (4 in Kyiv, 2 in Lviv, 1 in Odesa), 5 are in the process of opening their own small bakeries, 8 continue internships in Europe (under the exchange programme with Tartine Bakery, Le Pain Quotidien, and Bread Pitt). Hanna personally visits every new establishment of her graduates and provides consultations for the first 6 months. 'My risk in the project is their risk,' she says. 'If they do not bake good bread, this is a failure of our school. That is why I personally guarantee quality through the first six months.' The second intake is in March 2026; 73 applicants for 20 places.
