AGROBIZ Igor Harmund

Igor Harmund didn't set out to build a distillery. He studied economics, and while he had some early exposure to fruit processing concepts, the path he describes is one of slow, deliberate growth, often against the grain of what he expected. For ten years, he focused solely on expanding his orchards, planting plum and pear trees, before he ever began distilling in 2015. His Destilerija Harmund, nestled in the Bilogora hills, now produces a range of fruit brandies and liqueurs, anchored by the popular Williamovka. But the real story here isn't just about the products; it's about the grit required to build an agricultural business in a volatile climate. Harmund recounts significant frost damage, the struggle to find seasonal workers despite high unemployment figures, and the near-total collapse of his primary sales channels during the pandemic. As he puts it, for his business, "there are no holidays." This conversation offers a clear-eyed look at what it means to operate a multi-generational business where the work is constant and unpredictable. You will hear how one entrepreneur navigates the challenges of local labor markets, the persistent difficulty of selling what you've worked so hard to produce, and what it truly takes to sustain a family enterprise through crisis.