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The beverage company announced in January that it would support the Krnov-based company Zahradní OLLA s.r.o. as part of the development of its incubator focused on startup and sustainable projects. The company produces clay irrigation pots that save water. This year, interest in these products was again greater than could be satisfied. Kofola has decided to become a one-third partner of Zahradní OLLA and to invest about one million crowns in its growth.

The Krnov startup Zahradní OLLA has accepted an offer to lease workshop space on the premises of Kofola, where its transport company SANTA-TRANS is based. "During the summer, we were working on the layout of production, warehouse, dispatch and the overall facilities of Zahradní OLLA on these premises. At the same time, we came to the fundamental decision to purchase a new, larger furnace, which will allow us to increase the production of our products and prepare sufficient stock for the spring of 2024," explains Šárka Boček, who together with Karel Dufek founded the company.

All this would not have been possible without the support of Kofola ČeskoSlovensko which provided a loan of hundreds of thousands of crowns to Zahradní OLLA at the beginning of the year. Jannis Samaras, Kofola Group Chief Executive Officer, announced at that time that the company was ready for another investment in the form of a share buyout. And this has now taken place. Kofola has exercised its right of first option to purchase a stake in Zahradní OLLA and has become the owner of a 34% stake. This represented an investment of approximately CZK 1 million.

"We favour companies that are local, managed with passion and competence, and whose end product is environmentally friendly. I am happy that we can support and develop projects like OLLA in our incubator," explains Jannis Samaras. "We see a future in meaningful collaboration between small and large companies. Not only does it bring new impulses to established processes, but it also enriches the people in the companies themselves. In this case, the level of commitment of our employees is so high that some have decided to invest their own money in OLLA's business," he adds.

Šárka Boček also confirms the benefits of cooperation. "Thanks to the support of people from the Kofola team, we have come a long way in a relatively short time. Not only is our website undergoing changes, but also our e-shop. For example, we are introducing the possibility of payment in euros to facilitate purchases for those from Slovakia, of which there are quite a few. During autumn 2023 we will launch an English version of the website and e-shop so that we can reach customers and business partners throughout Europe," Šárka Boček describes the plans.

In the coming months, Zahradní OLLA will focus mainly on developing business relations, it also wants to focus on developing cooperation with local governments, or kindergartens and primary schools. Their gardens are ideal candidates for irrigation with OLLA clay pots, so that they will thrive even in the summer holiday months. "I am a certified permaculture designer. This means I can offer schools a very original and functional perspective not only on the creation of the garden, but especially on its subsequent operation. And there is no doubt that with OLLA clay pots you will come to understand not only the capillary phenomenon but also other physical and ecological issues," says Šárka Boček with enthusiasm. OLLA has already developed cooperation with Kofola in this area. In the Rajecká dolina, the first sustainable flower beds have been created in which schoolchildren grow herbs.

The goal of Zahradní OLLA is to grow from a regionally perceived startup to a sustainable company with a cross-border reach. Clay pots that reduce the amount of water needed for irrigation can be found at www.zahradniolla.cz. You can physically meet the founders and their products at the Slou days 2023 and Innovation Week conferences in Prague in October. Zahradní OLLA will be attending a professional workshop in Slovakia, organized by the non-profit organization Kvapka Rajeckej doliny, and in November it will be present at the traditional Permaculture Conference 2023.