special edition
BUSINESSWOMAN
MOKATE’S
WOMEN Sylwia Mokrysz, Member of the Management Board of Mokate
I
t is safe to say that Teresa Mokrysz is the undisputed and most recognisable face of the company Mokate. But going back in history, it is men who had the decisive voice. It all began in 1900, as Josef Mokryš founded a family business - a shop with “colonial” goods in the Silesian town of Cieszyn (now within the borders of the Czech Republic). Twenty seven years later, his younger brother Alois followed in his footsepts and opened a similar shop in Goleszów. The firm was already known as “Mokrysz”. However, it was not until the 1990s, along with the political changes in Poland, that chances appeared for a dynamic development of the family business. In 1990, Kazimierz Mokrysz, a grandson of the original owner, made over the business to his wife. Teresa Mokrysz changed the name to MOKATE (an acronym of MOkryszKAzimierz-TEresa) and branched into coffee creamers. All this happened after moving to Ustroń. Soon, Mokate Cappuccino was launched, which still remains the undisputed market leader in its category. It was the proverbial “bull’s eye”. Teresa Mokrysz, who is behind Mokate’s success, is often portrayed in the media. In the 2011 special edition of “Polish Market” devoted to women-managers, Teresa Mokrysz told us about the important role that men, including her husband, play in the company: “From the very beginning, he was extremely supportive. Moreover, he took on his shoulders the most challenging tasks. It is thanks to his perseverance and ingenuity that production got started twenty years ago...” Teresa Mokrysz also appreciated the role of their children. “I must add that I can count on my children, too.
Sylwia and Adam are Board members and have already significant achievements to their credit.” Mokate remains a family business. Such companies usually operate based on three pillars: flexibility, fidelity to traditional values and close customer relationship. They are more economical, active in a couple of business lines, and generally they have a higher share of exports in total sales than “typical” companies. As a result, they create a sustainable and stable business model resistant to crises. And most importantly, consideration for future generations often takes precedence in a family business over profit as such. Adam Mokrysz, a Board member, is successfully building Mokate’s position globally. However, as this issue of “Polish Market” is dedicated to women, we will present you Sylwia Mokrysz. She graduated from the Faculty of Management at the University of Economics in Katowice and postgraduate studies in management at the Warsaw School of Economics. At the beginning of her career, still a student, she led Mokate’s foreign correspondence, translating papers into German, English and Russian. Then, she switched to marketing, co-creating one of the first Polish TV commercials under the slogan: “Mokate Cappuccino - a coffee star.” Sylwia Mokrysz is now working on a development strategy for Mokate tea. Championing innovative products, she is responsible for marketing and PR of the tea business line and Lavazza in Poland. She has initiated Mokate’s participation in the most prestigious cultural events in Poland. She is also involved in many social projects, including those promoting the role of women.
A Women’s Enterprise Ambassador, she is also a member of the Family Business Network and the Million Women Mentors. Summing up 2015, Sylwia Mokrysz says: “Mokate’s tea business line has had another successful year. The company has maintained its position as the second largest tea seller in Poland: the black tea ‘Minutka’ remains the country’s topselling tea, and LOYD brand’s portfolio has been enriched by some unusual items, including the Manuka honey flavour, or Tea&Wine - a flavour inspired by the taste of wine. We have also had a significant export success, constantly strengthening the position of our tea brands outside Poland, especially in the Balkans, in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and in the Baltic countries. The company’s never-changing feature is the strategy of qualitative advantages. Our tea blends are made from the absolutely best teas, which are carefully selected and undergo a multistage quality control process.” Over the years, Mokate has become a leader of the market of coffee, tea and semi-finished food products - in the latter category it is a major player on the European market. More than 50% of its production is exported to nearly 60 countries around the world. Mokate operates 9 plants located in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, with a headcount of around 1,500 employees. The company is a perfect example of successful women: brave, tenacious, focused on innovation and modernity. An example often and deservedly posed as a model for all ladies interested in a professional career and development. •
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