"They succeeded with only $25" Journal de Montréal and Journal de Québec

source : https://www.journaldequebec.com/2020/01/05/comment-un-couple-dimmigrants-a-reussi-avec-seulement-25

A Yugoslavian couple who arrived in Quebec in 1995 with only $25 in their pockets succeeded in founding a coffee roasting business that is now preparing to pass into the hands of their children.  

Nikolina and Predrag Okuka founded Café Castelo barely a year after arriving in Quebec City. Fleeing the war, they left their native Yugoslavia with little more than their determination and shared passion for coffee. Their daughter Anja was very young, while Nicolas, her brother, was not yet born.  

"We didn't speak French. We didn't even know where we were coming from. Everything was new, the culture, the climate. We started from below zero. Now, when I think about it, I wonder if I would have the courage to do it again, but life is good. It's better not to know what's coming. When you don't have a choice, you can do a lot of things," said Nikolina Okuka, who is also an accomplished artist.  

Awarded several times for her talent, this courageous woman has opened an art gallery above the Cartier Avenue café, where she presents her work, but also the work of emerging artists.   

Dazzling growth  

Although she and her spouse are still very active in the company, Anja is taking on an increasingly important role. In fact, the young woman distinguished herself by winning the title of Young Business Personality 2018 from the Jeune Chambre de commerce de Québec.  

In five years, the company has grown by 80%. In addition to having two coffee shops in Quebec City, Café Castelo has a roasting plant in Lévis. It supplies hotels, restaurants, offices and a dozen independent coffee shops. "We've diversified," says Anja, who serves as director of business development.  

Pride of a father  

Predrag is proud of his family's achievements, especially since 25 years ago, the man and his wife arrived in Quebec with only $25 in their pockets, the couple recalled in an interview with the Journal. 

"The important thing is to prepare the kids quietly so they can continue. The more space they take up, the more we can pull back," Okuka says.  

According to him, there is no point in living in the past. Anja and Nicolas bring in new ideas that allow the company to adapt to changes.   

"Life is a constant learning process. That's how you evolve. It's not about staying in the same mold," he admits. The year 2020 promises to be a busy one for Café Castelo, which is cooking up a big project.  

"At the end of the day, what's important to me is that my children are happy," adds Nikolina.