Skip to content

CEI

Innovation and investment in rural America.

  • Find an Advisor
    • For Entrepreneurs
      • Small Business Development Center
      • The CEI Women’s Business Center
      • StartSmart
      • Workforce Solutions
      • Child Care Business Lab
      • Downeast Business Boot Camp & Pitch-Off
      • Small Business Resources
    • For Sustainable Food Systems
      • Agriculture & Food Systems
      • Tastemakers Initiative
      • Fisheries & Aquaculture
      • Maine Seafood Marketing Initiative
    • For Individuals
      • Homebuyer / Homeowner
      • Financial Wellness
      • Resident Owned Communities
  • Apply for Financing
    • For Businesses
      • Make a Loan Payment
      • Wicked Fast Loans
      • Grow Maine at CEI
      • Business Loans
      • Sea Farm Loans
      • Venture Capital
      • Maine Relief Programs
    • FOR PROJECTS
      • Solar Energy Financing
      • Community Facility Financing
      • CRA & Opportunity Zone Real Estate Investments
      • New Markets Tax Credits
      • State Historic Tax Credits
  • Maine State Programs at CEI
    • Maine State Child Care Infrastructure Grant Program
      • Grow Maine at CEI
  • Meet Our Subsidiaries
    • Bright Community Capital
    • CEI-Boulos Capital Management
    • CEI Capital Management
    • CEI Ventures
  • About
  • News & Events
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Search
Close
loading...

Ameera Bread

Starting Smart and Growing Wisely

Ahmed Abbas had just woken up from a short nap. He had been pulling extra shifts making bread at night while his head baker was in Iraq visiting family, all the while still overseeing two locations and training new employees for his staff of 8 during the day. The lack of sleep was real and he wanted to stay sharp.

Quality, Ahmed reiterated several times, was the key to his success. “We are the best of the best of the Middle East,” gesturing to the assortments of breads, hot foods, salads and spreads in his Portland headquarters.

“Customers started coming because they recognized the quality of the food and the friendliness of the staff.” Their positive reputation, he said, was built up slowly, but firmly.

Ahmed learned the food industry from the ground up. Originally an employee of the business, then known as Tandoor Bread, Ahmed credits the previous owner, Audai Naser, with teaching him the art of clay-oven breadmaking, a new field for the former electrical engineer. Ahmed embraced his new direction and when Audai decided to sell the business, Ahmed was ready to take over. With business counseling and a loan from CEI, Ahmed purchased the business and renamed it Ameera Bread.

Since purchasing the business in 2014, Ameera has expanded its product range and locations, adding a second shop in Portland’s Monument Square to the bakery/shop on Forest Avenue. The business has also grown in acclaim, earning positive reviews in the local press and a Maine Minority Owned Small Business of the Year Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2019.

“I can see in his eyes that he feels proud when Ameera Bread does well,”

Ahmed Abbas, Ameera Bread Owner on StartSmart advisor John Scribner.

Ahmed is equally proud of his success thus far, but is conscious of being strategic in his future growth. “I have a lot of ideas, but I learned how to grow wisely.” Ahmed highlighted how John has helped him consider the ramifications of new ideas before committing to them.

“If you see Ameera expand,” he says, “you’ll know it is the right time.” Growing wisely, indeed.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AMEERA BREAD

Website: https://www.ameerabreadllc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmeeraBread/
Instagram: @ameera_bread

LOOKING TO START OR GROW YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

To learn more about how CEI’s StartSmart program can help you start or grow your immigrant-owned business, visit https://www.ceimaine.org/advising/business-counseling-development/startsmart/

For more information on CEI’s loan offerings, including our new Wicked FastTM loans, visit: https://www.ceimaine.org/financing/

More Stories

CEI Stories

  • A smiling Passamaquoddy Native American woman standing in front of a craft fair booth
    Crafts From The Bay
    A Business Born from the Heart
  • Mis Primeros Pasos
    Taking steps to help children develop a loving connection with the natural world and diverse cultures
  • Crown Fried Chicken & Kebab
    Elbow Grease + Expertise = An Excellent Eatery
  • Rhona Beauty LLC
    From New Career to New Business Owner
  • Tubelite Inc.
    Creating Good Jobs in Mesquite, Texas
  • Carolina’s Specialty Shop
    Bringing an immigrant's perspective to supporting locally-made goods.
More Stories

We are creating an economy that lifts all people.

About Us

Join Us!

"*" indicates required fields

Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Coastal Enterprises on Instagram
  • Coastal Enterprises on Linkedin
  • Coastal Enterprises on Facebook
  • Coastal Enterprises on Twitter
  • Coastal Enterprises on Youtube

COASTAL ENTERPRISES, INC.
30 Federal Street, Suite 100
Brunswick, ME 04011
207-504-5900

Find Your Local Office

  • Advice
    • For Business
    • For Sustainable Food Systems
    • For Homeowners
    • Apply for Financing
    • Make a Loan Payment
  • CEI Subsidiaries
    • Bright Community Capital
    • CEI-Boulos Capital Management
    • CEI Capital Management
    • CEI Ventures
  • Investing in CEI
    • Donate
    • Investment Capital
    • Venture Capital
    • Solar Investments
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Our History
    • Careers at CEI
    • Publications and Reports
    • Public Policy Initiatives

© 2023 Coastal Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Coastal Enterprises, Inc. is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer.

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy