Anika is sitting at the kitchen table in the light-flooded basement of a company building in Altenberge. Outside you can see the fields, on the table is a matcha - her favorite Pelster's product. Everything is cozy and lovingly decorated. Her oat milk products in different sizes are everywhere. There is a small social media photo studio, a large warehouse and several offices - in her own there is also a children's chair with a play area. "When one of my sons comes along. Founding the company during my parental leave was a challenge, but also a valuable experience. Until my two children went to daycare, they were always there - in the office but also in meetings." Basically, her first son was the deciding factor for founding Pelster's - behind it are oat milk-based products: high quality, sugar-free, organic, regional if possible and above all healthy.
When she founded the company in 2021, her son was six months old: "During that time, I was very concerned with conscious nutrition and reducing packaging waste. While preparing his meals, I came up with the idea that oat drink could also be offered in powder form in order to reduce packaging waste and transport emissions." When the products finally hit the market in 2022, Anika was already pregnant with her second son.
Our big goal for 2024 is to also be available in some supermarkets.
The main idea was initially the oat drink powder. 100 grams of powder mixed with water makes one liter of oat milk. "The oat drink powder then became two varieties: the organic oat drink, which really consists of 100 percent oats, and the barista oat drink. To ensure that it foams particularly well, it contains rapeseed oil and is similar to cow's milk. The special thing is that all drinks are free of additives." She started the range primarily in online retail. "We currently sell over 80 percent online. However, we are currently placing a greater focus on sales through retail and wholesale. Our big goal for 2024 is to also be available in some supermarkets."
On the way to the different types of products, she kept asking herself in the supermarket: “What would I be missing?” So after the oat drink, she developed sugar-free children’s cocoa, various instant cappuccinos, tea lattes, a matcha, sugar-free date chocolate creams and – brand new – a turmeric mix. She and her husband, who also works at Pelster's, have split the care work 50 percent. "Either my husband or I take turns picking up the children from daycare at lunchtime and looking after them in the afternoon, other part then has a long day at work.”
The course prepared me very well for the job because I had to work things out myself and learn independently. Analytical thinking, communication skills and perseverance are also very important.
The oat drink was her first product idea. (Photo: FH Münster/Janine Martschinske)
She also benefited greatly from her business studies at our university when it came to starting her own business: "The course prepared me very well for the work because I had to work things out myself and learn independently. Analytical thinking, communication skills and perseverance are also very important." The material from the areas of cost accounting, financial planning, commercial law, annual financial statements and employee management also helped her a lot. "These are all things that are important for running a company. It's very good if you already have this knowledge."
By Milana Mohr
Link to the video: Get started with your own business! Alumni portrait: Anika Pelster from Pelster's (youtube.com)
