THE STORY OF KOLOKOL KVASS
Roman Dishkovtsov, Founder.
I wish I could say there was some dramatic life event which served a turning point and caused me to start Kolokol Kvass, LLC. Or that I was a restless millionare seeking an outlet for a tremendous idea. There was no "last chance shot" taken at it, before the dream would turn to illusion. You'd almost say mine was an unusually banal situation. Except there is nothing of that sort when you are trying to enter such a gigantic industry with a product no one has ever heard about, much less ever tried the likes of it in their life. "Kolokol Kvass." Say that five times fast.
I grew up in a small agrarian village in Southern Russia near the Black Sea region known as Kuban', populated by Cossacks ever since the early 1600's. Bareback horse riding, borsch, sun-dried fish, skinny dipping nights, scythe for a lawnmower, barrel soured apples, summer work camps, outhouses, banya parties, river-ice hockey, raw milk, salted pork, dirt roads... are among the many things I can recall, and kvass, of course.
At 19, almost 16 years ago now, I first landed in Detroit, MI. Life took its planned and unplanned course, until, in 2012, I found myself toying with the idea of starting Kolokol Kvass, LLC. Encouraging comments from friends and family, after trying my homemade kvass, prompted me to try offering kvass on a commercial level. Suppliers located, proper tests done, fees paid and licenses acquired, manufacturing began in the summer of 2013. Having settled in Helena, MT proved a centralized location with a local distributing service delivering product throughout the state. Small business is the backbone of this economy, and I'm grateful to all who have shown such support for Kolokol Kvass.
I grew up in a small agrarian village in Southern Russia near the Black Sea region known as Kuban', populated by Cossacks ever since the early 1600's. Bareback horse riding, borsch, sun-dried fish, skinny dipping nights, scythe for a lawnmower, barrel soured apples, summer work camps, outhouses, banya parties, river-ice hockey, raw milk, salted pork, dirt roads... are among the many things I can recall, and kvass, of course.
At 19, almost 16 years ago now, I first landed in Detroit, MI. Life took its planned and unplanned course, until, in 2012, I found myself toying with the idea of starting Kolokol Kvass, LLC. Encouraging comments from friends and family, after trying my homemade kvass, prompted me to try offering kvass on a commercial level. Suppliers located, proper tests done, fees paid and licenses acquired, manufacturing began in the summer of 2013. Having settled in Helena, MT proved a centralized location with a local distributing service delivering product throughout the state. Small business is the backbone of this economy, and I'm grateful to all who have shown such support for Kolokol Kvass.
Roman D.