Jan Pohořelý, Čočkýna

Jan first got involved in making “Čočkýna” – crispy lentils – during his studies at the Czech University of Life Sciences. Together with his friend Simča, who originally came up with the idea, they started offering the product and experimenting with production in the school kitchen – unfortunately without success. After finishing school, Jan returned to Plzeň, bought a fryer, and eventually found the right production method in a basement bathroom. In 2023, he decided to fully commit to Čočkýna, handled the paperwork, and designed the first packaging. He began frying the first flavors in a rented kitchen and selling them at markets and in stores. Since 2024, he has had his own production facility and supplies Čočkýna to shops as well as to rohlik.cz.