#secondhomebuiltright

by Daniel Donici

When people hear the word “factory,” they often picture something cold, metallic, and mechanical—full of automation, noise, and people in hairnets moving on a schedule. But for us at Artesana, a factory isn’t just a place where milk becomes yogurt. It’s where values become action.

That’s why, when we decided to build our second factory, we knew from the beginning: it had to reflect who we are—not just scale what we do.

This wasn’t about growth for growth’s sake. It was about holding onto everything that made us different… while creating the space to serve more people, more reliably, with the same level of care.

Why a Second Factory?

The answer is simple: we reached the limits of the first.

Our original Tecuci facility was built in 2012 with a dream and a few stainless steel tanks. It was designed to be local, artisanal, and efficient for a modest volume. And while it served us beautifully, the demand eventually outpaced our ability to supply.

More families wanted access to unprocessed, full-fat milk in glass bottles. More shops and health-conscious customers requested our kefir and yogurt. We started seeing delays, bottlenecks, and the dreaded words: “Out of stock.”

We never imagined that our small-batch philosophy would be met with such a large appetite. Saying no started to feel like a disservice to the very people who supported us. So, we made a decision—grow, but grow our way.

Designing With Intention

We didn’t call this “expansion.” We called it “continuity.” Because the goal wasn’t just a bigger version of the old. It was a better expression of the same beliefs.

Every square meter of the new facility was designed with care:

Separate production lines for cow and goat milk, ensuring no cross-contamination and respecting the integrity of each source

Natural light in working areas—because even in a factory, people deserve to feel the rhythm of the day

Dedicated fermentation chambers where kefir and yogurt cultures can thrive in stable, controlled microclimates

A viewing corridor for school groups, families, and partners to observe how we work—because transparency builds trust

Glass-friendly bottling lines that gently handle our jars and preserve their quality from fill to seal

We didn't aim for speed or mass output. We aimed for thoughtfulness, cleanliness, and consistency. The result is a space where people feel proud to work—and where milk can become its best version.

The Human Element

What makes this factory different isn’t the machines. It’s the people.

Many members of our original team were involved in designing and training for the new location. They didn’t just bring skills—they brought habits, instincts, and a culture of care.

In every corner, you’ll find touches of humanity. A team member wiping down a surface before their shift starts, out of respect. Someone pausing a line because a label is slightly off-center. These aren’t rules—they’re reflexes. They’re part of the DNA we carried over.

Yes, we have more room. Yes, we have new tools. But our way of working remains refreshingly manual in the best possible sense.

Facing the Inevitable Challenges

Of course, no project of this scale happens without friction.

Construction delays, rising material costs, power supply constraints—we faced them all. At one point, a critical fermentation chamber unit got stuck at customs for three weeks, throwing our schedule into chaos. There were moments when we wondered if we had taken on too much.

But every obstacle reminded us why we were doing this in the first place. Not to build fast—but to build right.

Listening to Our Community

One unexpected benefit of the expansion process was hearing from our customers more than ever.

People reached out—asking if they’d still get the same taste, the same feel, the same cream-on-top texture. Some worried we might compromise. Others simply wanted to know if the milk would still come from the same farms.

We took all of it to heart. Every concern became a checkpoint. Every piece of feedback became a reminder to stick to the Decalogul Artesana—our internal guide to staying honest, transparent, and rooted in quality.

What the Second Factory Enables

Now that it’s up and running, what does this new space allow us to do?

More consistent supply to our retail partners without losing freshness

More educational visits from schools, food bloggers, and young explorers

More specialty batches like limited seasonal flavors and experimental ferments

More employment in the local area—with jobs rooted in care, not just output

It also gives us something less tangible but equally important: breathing room. When you’re constantly chasing deadlines and capacity limits, it’s hard to innovate. With this new space, we can think forward again.

A Step Toward the World Stage

As we prepare for the 2025 Go Global Awards in London, this second factory feels symbolic.

Not because it’s modern. But because it’s ours. It was built in Romania, by Romanians, for a Romanian company that believes tradition and quality are not opposites—they’re partners.

We’ll be walking into that global event with glass jars in our hands and clean labels on our backs—not because we followed trends, but because we stayed true to our path.

Final Thought

Factories are often judged by numbers—how many units per hour, how fast, how big. But for us, this second factory is about something quieter: preserving trust at scale.

So whether you’re holding a bottle from our original Tecuci location or our new facility, know this—it was made the same way. Carefully. Honestly. Humanly.