Fabio
& Rupert
For the past two years, co-founders Rupert and Fabio of ROY Kombucha have been selling their delicious and healthy new elixir to restaurants, cafés and events. But a sudden shift due to COVID-19 meant changing their business model to sell directly to their consumers. In a matter of weeks, they developed a new website and added new products—they’re even shipping homemade kombucha kits so you can brew it yourself.
Brewing a kombucha revolution
Owners of ROY Kombucha
Above
Fabio (left) and Rupert (right)
Photo: Helge Mundt
Tell us a bit about yourself
09 APR 2020 Rupert & Fabio here, two friends running a Kombucha brewery in Weißensee called ROY.
Fabio is half Swiss, half Italian and Rupert is German. We’ve both been living in Berlin for 8 years. We opened the brewery in August of 2019, after leaving our previous careers in the tech startup world. We have been spreading the love for Kombucha ever since, also through the organization of Kombucha Summit, Europe's conference for commercial Kombucha producers.
We believe the European Kombucha market will catch up with the one in the US and be one of the biggest drinks categories in a few years. That’s at least what we’re working towards!
Above
ROY Kombucha Brewing Kit
Order online
How have the last few weeks or months shaped or impacted your practice?
COVID-19 has changed our business completely. Before the crisis, we were very focused on selling Kombucha to cafés and restaurants, and at events. That business is temporarily gone, of course. Now, we are selling the majority of our Kombucha straight to customers, so we had to adapt to this very quickly—updating our online store, launching new products, etc.. The last few weeks were definitely turbulent! Keep your head up, stay creative and positive :)
Above
The Kyrö Mule.
Make your own
Photo: Cecile Vadas
Keep your head up. Stay creative and positive.”
Above
ROY Kombucha on tap
How are you coping at home?
We’re still working in the brewery, so we don’t really have tips for coping at home. A small tip that always helps: Stop reading the news and make some Kombucha—we also offer Kombucha Home Brewing Kits!
Above
All the flavours of the ROY rainbow
Order online
Above
ROY Booch Bag
Order online
Above
ROY Kombucha Brewing Kit
Order online
What has inspired you recently?
It’s inspiring to see:
a) how many people are starting initiatives to help small businesses survive during this crisis
b) how businesses have teamed up to offer special offers and
c) how people are spending their money to support their favourite places: Cafés, restaurants or... a Kombucha brewery!
Above
Fabio (left) and Rupert (right)
with their co-worker Vytenis
preparing for a delivery run
How can people support you?
Order Kombucha or a Kombucha brewing kit on our website.
Above
Fabio (left) and Rupert (right)
in their Berlin brewery
Photo: Helge Mundt