In 2008 Coca-Cola launched its own brand of kvass in Russia "Kruzhka i Bochka", becoming the first foreign company to make a significant entry into this very specific market in Russia. With a unique taste and aroma of crispy rye bread, "Kruzhka i Bochka" combines the traditional taste of kvass with the quality of drinks produced by the multinational.
Building on its success in the Russian market, Coca-Cola bought the Ukrainian brand "Yarilo", and started producing Kvass in Ukraine at Zaporizhzya in 2009. In addition to the drink, the plant also produces a wort concentrate which is the main ingredient of Kvass.
Back in 2006, the Coca-Cola R&D team contacted
Meura's R&D department to discuss the design of a state-of-the-art
"Kvass" extract production line. The two companies have partnered in a test program on Meura Technologies' pilot plant.
The rye and especially dark rye malt give a wort with a rather poor filterability. From the mashing stage onwards, particular attention must be paid to the process conditions in order to avoid negative impacts on filterability. The
Meura2001 Hybrid filter proved to be the most optimal technology due to its excellent filtration of this specific wort, achieving
the highest wort density to reduce evaporation costs.
The combination of Meura's brewhouse technology with the expertise of Coca-Cola's R&D team in selecting raw materials and process parameters to achieve the desired flavor could lead only to success. Indeed, after about four years of collaboration, a process was developed.
In 2010, Coca-Cola signed a contract with Meura for an
industrial plant for the production of kvass concentrate. The equipment installation project started at the end of 2011 and the first brew was produced at the end of 2012, as planned. The final installation and acceptance took place in less than two months for this turnkey production unit, which is considered an Industrial prototype.
