Vegan Pies Berlin

Ever had a craving for sweet and decadent American-style pie? Well, Vegan Pies Berlin has your back.

Offering many mouth-watering flavours from cherry and lime to pecan, peanut butter, and pumpkin, you’ll be spoilt for choice when picking your next pie to share or enjoy all to yourself.

Personally, we think a selection of multiple flavours goes down a treat!

We spoke with Vegan Pies Berlin founder Anna Illyashyk about the inspiration behind her company, the challenges of running a pastry business, and her vision to expand Vegan Pies Berlin across Europe.

What inspired you to launch Vegan Pies Berlin?

I have been wanting to open a shop of my own for a few years now and I knew I wanted to sell physical products that would cheer people up. I wanted to develop something new. Eventually an idea crossed my mind to share the pies that I have been baking for myself with others and I gave some pies for others to try.

I got amazing feedback! Even though the pies themselves are not new, the idea of the pies is new in Berlin - I am not aware of any other place doing the same thing here.

Once I got the idea it felt very natural to pursue it and I really believe that Vegan Pies Berlin is what I'm meant to be doing.

How long have you been vegan and what inspired you to make the transition?

I have been vegan for about a year. I have been interested in vegan food for years but I haven't had the guts to make the transition until I started living with my vegan girlfriend who has been vegan for nine years now!

Where do you get your menu inspiration from?

I get the inspiration from the memories of the time I lived in Minnesota, USA where I enjoyed many amazing American pies. I have also been following dessert accounts on instagram for years. I have so many ideas! I just need patience and practice to implement them.

What’s been your biggest challenge running a fully vegan business?

My biggest challenge is getting the correct professional recognition card in Germany (the handwerkskammer). This has nothing to do with a vegan business, but it’s a challenge of running a pastry shop. There are so many strict rules about the kind of qualifications I need to make the pies.

Otherwise I would say finding the right ingredients is a challenge. It is all possible in Berlin but for some of the ingredients I have no alternative.

What are your thoughts on the current vegan landscape in Berlin and Germany in general?

I would say that the vegan landscape in Berlin is quite decent. I have been extremely lucky to go vegan here, as I can get almost anything I could ever need. Of course, vegan foods and items are still the minority but availability and options are always growing.

Any big plans for the future of Vegan Pies Berlin?

I have lots of plans for the future of Vegan Pies Berlin. At the moment I am focusing on establishing the company in Berlin. I will be selling online, thanks to help from VEGCRAVER, but also through the company's website.

I am looking forward to also selling at Berlin markets and eventually opening a physical shop, with coffee, tea and lots of pies for all! The idea is to have about 10-15 pies on the menu regularly in the future. The pies will be decorated eventually, once I hire the pastry chef. I plan to combine traditional and modern ideas, and decorate the pies with macarons, cream and cookies, shapes made out of chocolate… all of that good stuff!

Once the presence in Berlin is established I will keep on working on creating Vegan Pies in Hamburg, Amsterdam, Krakow and who knows where else. These are some of my favourite cities in the world and I can see a lot of potential there.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life I think it would be bagels. I love those stuffed vegan delicacies with vegan cheese or salmon-type carrots.

Don't forget to try Anna's pies, place your order at her profile.

ps: Our favorite is the pecan pie!