Eight years ago, Alise Balgalve began experimenting with making breakfast muesli from triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye, adding flavorful fruit, nuts, seeds and other treats to the grain.
"In 2012, this idea arose from desire for such a product and the market did not offer these, so Alise started to make it herself," said Krišjānis Brehmanis, "Felici" co-owner and sales manager.
It turned out delicious. Friends appreciated it, and soon enough the product hit the shelves of supermarket chain Rimi.
"We produced health food before it was cool," said Krišjānis Brehmanis.
“After Rimi we loaded a car with products and drove to Lithuania. We found all the addresses of shop offices, knocked on doors, offered our products. And so we were inside Lithuania's Maxima. It was our first export."
“We did everything by hand. There was no equipment. We wrapped the package with our hands, stirred it by hand, everything by hand.
It was pretty crazy. But that's the way you go. You have to prove yourself from the start."
Next was the Czech market - and then the wheel started turning. Now, "Felici" exports their production to 30 countries, including New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, India, Namibia.
From a home kitchen to international exports - Alise and Krišjānis have shown that all it takes is an idea, determination, hard work and tenacity.
