In 2022, the family of Inesa and Taras Petukhov left their native Mykolaiv due to military actions and moved to the village of Chishky in the Lviv region. A long period of adaptation in a new place was accompanied by professional disorientation and a search for new meanings. A turning point for the family was Inesa’s participation in a five-day training course for women, which gave an impetus to the creation of her own business.
From Crisis to the Establishment of a Craft Workshop
The first year after the move was a time of trials for the family. Inesa Petukhova recalls this stage as a period of deep confusion.
“We came from Mykolaiv to Lviv and just lived for about a year, adapted, somehow looked for ourselves. I had a crisis: I’m 45+, I have three children, and I didn’t know what to do,” – the entrepreneur says.
Registration for the support course happened by chance, but it was this environment that helped find a new direction.
“I looked at the other participants and thought: what am I doing here? They have a business, a career, and I’m so unsure of myself. But on the fourth day, an idea was born. I came home and told my husband: we will make a business out of your hobby,” – Inesa shares.
The family decided to scale up Taras’s long-standing hobby of processing walnuts. Within ten days, they developed a brand concept, designed labels and packaging. The first batch of products was sold at a local fair. The owners of the ITARA brand were very nervous before the first public sale, but in two days they sold almost the entire range, realizing the viability of their business idea.
Unique Technology and Development of Consumption Culture
ITARA workshop specializes in the production of products from local raw materials, offering a new look at Ukrainian walnuts. The couple has developed a specific method of processing, which involves careful cleaning of each kernel from the bitter skin. The use of this technology makes it possible to significantly improve the taste qualities of the final product.
The company’s range includes walnut pastes, sauces for meat and fish, smoked and spicy snacks. For baking lovers, walnut flour is produced, and culinary dishes can be supplemented with craft oils and spices from grated walnuts. Each product undergoes strict quality control, and the owners have refused to use artificial additives or preservatives. The entire product line is based exclusively on Ukrainian raw materials. The products are designed for consumers who care about the quality of their daily diet. These are families with children, gourmets, schoolchildren, students, athletes who need recovery after training, travelers, and drivers who need convenient energy snacks for the road.
Also read:
Business affected by Russian shelling can receive financial support through the employment service
Social Responsibility and Educational Initiatives
Entrepreneurs have laid a strong social mission in the foundation of the workshop. The company organizes walnut collection points in the villages of the Lviv region at market prices, forming an additional source of income for local residents. The enterprise involves women from rural areas, family members of servicemen, and people who were forced to leave their homes. Evaluating her own experience of moving, the founder notes:
“I’m not sure we would have taken on this in Mykolaiv, but here, somehow, the resources have emerged, and we have no choice but to do this.”
The significant impact on the development of the company’s social vector was its participation in the “School of Responsible Service” program, which is implemented by the Ukrainian Educational Platform together with the Promprilad Foundation.
“During my studies, the topic of social entrepreneurship was important to me, as we want to develop this direction in our business. The program taught me how to structure knowledge and processes that will help implement social impact. I think there should be more such initiatives, as the demand for them is only growing,” – Inesa Petukhova explains.
The owners of the workshop actively share their experience with other entrepreneurs. Group tours are held at the production facility for the exchange of practical skills. Inesa and Taras have launched a two-module training program to improve the professional level of craft producers. Participants receive expert consultations on the implementation of food safety production system principles and optimization of work processes.
Today, the ITARA brand demonstrates an example of a successful transformation of a life crisis into a stable project. “The main thing is that it should be enjoyable. The main thing is to believe in yourself. Over the past year, I have become a completely different person. I used to be afraid to even leave my corner, and now I speak on large stages, representing our business. So, don’t be afraid if you have an idea that inspires you and if there are people who support you,” – Inesa says.
Also read:
State or private school. Where is a better environment for a child really formed
