Czech specialty condiment producer Fermato is targeting millions in revenue for the current year, scaling back an initial projection while expanding its retail distribution across supermarkets and international markets. Founded by former automotive manager Radim Stráník, the company has grown from a weekend garage experiment into a commercial food enterprise specializing in fermented dressings centered around the savory Japanese flavor profile known as umami.
From Corporate Testing to Weekend Fermentation
Radim Stráník launched the business after a professional stint in Japan exposed him to umami, the fifth basic taste alongside sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. Working full-time in Prague’s automotive sector, Stráník spent his weekends in Moravia pressing tomatoes, ginger, and garlic, developing recipes, and bottling dressings while managing an online storefront. In 2024, after funding the venture from his corporate salary for two years, Stráník left his job to run Fermato full-time. Early production took place in a borrowed workshop and a communal kitchen beneath a senior center in Kostice before moving into a former winery in the same village.
Shifting Retail Strategy and Revenue Projections
According to Stráník, online sales failed to match expectations, while consumer purchasing habits shifted toward physical retail outlets. The company now supplies major chains including Globus and Lidl, alongside online grocery platforms. Stráník stated that private label manufacturing remains off-limits, with the company prioritizing its own brand to avoid becoming a replaceable supplier.
EY Entrepreneur Recognition and International Expansion
In February, Stráník received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 award for the South Moravian Region. Production capacity has increased from processing one ton of tomatoes per week to ten tons per day. To support long-term growth toward a projected one billion crowns in revenue, Fermato has entered the Hungarian market, with Poland and Rumania scheduled next. Following operations in those regions, the company plans to target Western European markets including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Worth a look
