“The key is passion and innovation”
We talk to Sylwia Mokrysz, the co-owner of Mokate, about her passion for building a family business and the importance of family spirit when working with partners in the global market.
Alicja Kostecka: The history of the family-owned company Mokate dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and its dynamic development – to the present day. The company’s expansion into foreign markets is impressive, with products from the Mokate portfolio exported to 75 countries. Could you tell us where the company sources the raw materials for its products?
Sylwia Mokrysz: The history of our company dates back to 1900, when Josef Mokryš, my great-grandfather’s brother, opened the first coffee and tea shop in Dobra (today’s Czech Republic). We continue to be inspired by this family heritage.
Today, Mokate is an international player with three modern production facilities – in Ustron, Zory and Votice in the Czech Republic. Our annual turnover is almost PLN 1.5 billion, of which up to 80% comes from foreign markets. The company employs over 1500 people worldwide.
We source raw materials from all over the world, taking advantage of the richness of international markets. We work with experts, enthusiasts and suppliers who share our high-quality standards. This enables us to offer products that not only taste great, but are also in line with our vision and values, wherever they come from.
A.K.: You work with large manufacturers and small family-run businesses abroad. What are the differences between working with one and the other?
S.M.: At Mokate, we value flexibility and the ability to adapt to the specificities of our partners. Working with large manufacturers tends to be more formal, based on well-defined procedures and standards. On the other hand, we build more personal relationships with smaller, family-run businesses.
As a family business, we perfectly understand the values upheld by smaller partners – their passion, commitment and unique approach to business. Both models bring many benefits and allow us to create products that meet the needs of our customers around the world.
We remember that in a family business like Mokate, planning is done as in a family – on a generational scale rather than based on a financial year. Decisions are made with the welfare of the family in mind – our own, but also the families of our employees – this is a huge responsibility.
A.K.: You proudly communicate the fact that you are a family business. Do you think this family spirit also matters to your contractors?
S.M.: Definitely yes. The family spirit is not only our history, but also our business philosophy. Contractors perceive Mokate as a stable, trustworthy and long-term partner. We believe that values such as tradition, quality and honesty have an impact on solid business relationships that have been built over generations.
For our partners, working with a family business means knowing that decisions are made responsibly, with a view to future generations and joint development. This is what distinguishes Mokate from other companies, even on a global scale.
A.K.: Does the fact that you are a family business influence the nature of this cooperation?
S.M.: Of course, it does. In family businesses, relationships based on trust and dialogue are key. At Mokate, we are flexible and make quick decisions based on years of experience as well as intuition. Our approach is more personal – we work with partners as if they were members of our own family, which leads to deeper and more lasting relationships.
Mokate’s family spirit also has another dimension – many families and generations of different nationalities work in our company, from Poles to Czechs and Slovaks. This is a great value and commitment for us. We make sure that all cooperation is based on mutual respect and common goals.
A.K.: In a food company like Mokate, the supply chain is not only long due to the nature of the raw material, but also because it has to meet certain hygiene requirements. How does your company manage to meet these requirements?
S.M.: Quality and safety are our priorities. Mokate meets the highest hygiene standards thanks to modern production facilities and cooperation with trusted suppliers. We have implemented strict quality control procedures at every stage – from raw material sourcing, through production, to the final product.
Our long experience in the coffee and tea industry enables us to manage our supply chain effectively, adapting to international standards and changing market conditions. Resilience to economic turbulence and flexibility in our operations enable us to meet these challenges.
A.K.: You source raw materials from different parts of the world with different quality standards. How does your company manage to reconcile the different approaches to quality prevailing in different parts of the world?
S.M.: The key is education and supervision. We work with partners in different parts of the world, providing them with support and access to knowledge about international quality standards. One example is the training we received at the London tea house Thompson Lloyd & Ewart, where our specialists learned from the best in the field.
Each raw material is carefully selected and our suppliers must meet Mokate’s strict requirements. We control the entire process from raw material sourcing to the finished product, which allows us to maintain consistency and the highest quality regardless of the region. Thanks to this, we can create products that are recognised around the world.
A.K.: You are one of the few companies in the industry to conduct research on the coffee and tea industry. What prompted you to do so?
S.M.: It all started with my passion for coffee and tea, which has been an integral part of our family tradition for generations. I wanted Mokate to become not only a manufacturer of high-quality products, but also a leader in knowledge and innovation. That is why, in 2023, I founded the Coffee & Tea Market Research Institute, which combines a scientific approach with practical business experience.
Our mission is not only to analyse markets, but also to develop innovative solutions – from products that respond to changing consumer needs to environmental and automation innovations in the industry. The Institute also allows us to inspire young researchers and enthusiasts – we organise conferences, collaborate with universities and publish the Coffee & Tea Marketing Journal, which popularises knowledge about this fascinating field.
For us, scientific work is more than a development tool. It is a way of working with the entire coffee and tea community to build a future based on quality, sustainability and passion.
