Mokate

Mokate

Mokate is a family business that has roots dating back to the turn of the 20th century. In 1900, Józef Mokrysz established a trading business in the town of Dobra, a city in the Cieszyn Silesia region of today's Czech Republic. Józef's small shop selling "colonial" goods formed the basis of the company known presently as Mokate. Today, Mokate is an internationally renowned company that exports its products to over 73 countries worldwide. In 2016 the company's logo received an update that included the phrase "a family business" to emphasize the family character of the company and acknowledge the foundation that was set by Józef over 100 years ago.

When Józef began his business in Dobra, he was involved in more than just commercial activities; he also kept busy organizing a volunteer fire department and a folk handicraft school, and was a supporter of a patriotic organization called "Sokól". Józef's younger brother, Alojzy, begins following in his footsteps in the area of Goleszów where he changed his name to "Mokrysz". At the time, the Mokrysz brothers were operating under the rule of Emperor Frans Joseph, and their respective towns of business were a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In 1927, Mokate's forerunner was a firm named Mokrysz, reflecting the customs of the time of naming a business after its owner. At this time, Mokate--or, Mokrysz, as it was then known--began a process of expansion. They acquired a restaurant and a concrete batching plant in addition to their shop in Goleszów. The Mokrysz family business maintained its status for the next three generations of the family. Notable changes and updates to the company began happening closer to the turn of the 21st century when Józef's grandson handed ownership over to his wife.

In 1990, the grandson of Józef Mokrysz, Kazimierz Mokrysz, passed the family business to his wife, Teresa. She changed the name of the company to MOKATE, reflecting a conjugation of the family name and her and her husband's first names (MOkrysz-KAzimierz-TEresa). This change in name was only the start of the successful evolution and development the company experienced under Teresa's leadership. Teresa also began developing a new line of business for the family company. After the family moved to Ustroń, Teresa defined an important turn in direction for the business toward the production of coffee creamers.

Two years after Teresa took charge of the company, Mokate Cappuccino was launched. Today Mokate's cappuccino products are popular throughout the world, but this was not always the case. Mokate cappuccino was not an immediate success because the beverage was entirely novel to many of the company's consumers when it was introduced in 1992. An autumn television campaign in the same year deomonstrated how to prepare a cappuccino, which helped this now very popular beverage to become a breakthrough for the company.

By 1994 Mokate Cappuccino was dominating the Polish market. At this time, Mokate was also initiating exports of their product to neighboring countries. With continually increasing demand for their cappuccino, Mokate's production facilities were fully stretched. The company made the decision to invest in another expansion, and that spring marked the construction of a new plant in close proximity to their existing site. The construction was completed in 1995 and the new, 3,500sq. meter headquarters was formally opened. The increased space created the potential for production to increase twofold. Mokate expanded their product range to include over 100 items, including drinking chocolate. Their exports increased to reach 10 countries, and the company quickly found itself in need of another expansion.

In 1997 Mokate's new facility was completed, offering two stories and one and a half times the space of their previous plant. The company's workforce was now close to 500 employees. With modernized production lines, Mokate's product range was increased to 200 different items which were exported to 30 countries. The new production facility also offered more space for laboratories where new recipes were developed. The laboratory facilities alone took up more space than the entire company occupied just a few years earlier! By the start of the 21st century, Mokate was already in need of another expansion.

Mokate experienced a landmark year for investment and expansion in 2000. A 12-story production facility was constructed in Ustroń for the manufacturing of powdered cream. This new facility enabled the company to go without the purchasing of imported whiteners and frothers from other manufacturers that were necessary to produce the Mokate product line. Instead, the new facility created the opportunity for the company to begin selling whiteners and frothers itself! Mokate's increase in manufacturing helped them to strengthen their position as a supplier of food ingredients by 2002 when they also released Mokate Cafe instant. At this point, Mokate also began launching new types of cocoa and took over Consumer, one of Poland's largest tea producers. By the end of the year, Mokate controlled 18% of the Polish tea market. 2002 also marked the 10th anniversary of Mokate Cappuccino.

In 2003, Mokate continued to expand their range of teas. They release new lines that place among "premium" level teas in the market. All of Mokate's new teas were based on the recipes and supplies of the legendary Longon Tea House, Thompson Lloyd & Ewart, which was founded in 1760. They also released another new instant product called "NYCoffee 2+1" which included coffee, cream, and sugar in one convenient package. Mokate also saw their export revenue increase to 25% of total sales. In 2006 Mokate takes over the Czech company Timex, and the company continues to further strengthen its position in Central and Eastern Europe.

Mokate continues to expand its international position in the tea and coffee market, and by 2007, exports reached 40% of total sales. Their ongoing cappuccino campaign began paying off, and new drinks continued to be developed. In 2008, Mokate Latte, Mokate Macchiato, and Mokate Mocca arrived on the market. Mokate continues to expand its holdings and products, strengthening its status as a tea manufacturer and acquiring a coffee and biscuit manufacturer outside of Prague. By 2009, Mokate includes a fully integrated group of 9 companies, with 6 located outside of the country. Mokate products are sold in over 70 countries, from Europe, to China, to Africa. Today, Mokate is considered an absolute leader and trailblazer in the global cappuccino market, and holds second place in the domestic tea market.

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