About this episode
Thiago Cunha discusses the founding and evolution of LABKOM, a consultancy for beverage producers in Brazil and beyond.
Thiago Cunha founded LABKOM in 2020, together with Ruan Gregório, after a technical support initiative during the COVID period helped regional beverage producers navigate process and regulatory challenges. Cunha is a chemical engineer, holds a master’s degree in biotechnology and a specialization in microbiology, and is currently a PhD candidate in chemistry at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). What began with support for a handful of kombucha brands in Minas Gerais evolved into a specialized consultancy focused on process consistency, quality control, shelf stability, and regulatory readiness. Today, LABKOM works with producers in Brazil and has also supported over 100 companies in markets across the United States, Chile, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, and Italy. Their work typically begins before the factory visit, with online review and preparation. Then comes an in-person phase, often three to five days on site, focused on diagnosis, training, and implementation. After that, support continues remotely for weeks or months. The reason is simple: analysis alone does not solve process variation. Teams also need help deciding what to do with the numbers they…
People in this episode
Guest: Thiago Cunha
Topics covered
- kombucha
- consultancy
- food production
- quality control
- shelf stability
- regulatory readiness
Keywords
- LABKOM
- kombucha
- consultancy
- quality control
- shelf stability
- regulatory challenges
- food production
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: LABKOM, Federal University of Minas Gerais
Places: Belo Horizonte, Brazil, United States, Chile, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, Italy
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