About Us – The Story of Zach’s Pesto & Chilli

Where It All Began
Our journey started in 2012 with a simple idea – to grow and sell fresh herbs. We rented a small 400 m² plot near Zbraslav in Prague, where we planted our first herbs and vegetables as an experiment. That first year, we tried growing a variety of herbs and tomatoes. Chilli peppers were more of a fun side project, with just a few plants in a small greenhouse. Basil, however, was a different story – we planted several varieties, searching for the perfect flavor.

That first year taught us a lot, including a few tough lessons. Sadly, our small plot also attracted some unwanted visitors – thieves. But when autumn came, we proudly harvested our first chilli peppers, despite the challenges.

The Turning Point
We looked forward to spring 2013 with high hopes, unaware of the big changes the year would bring. We prepared our plot carefully, adding a second, much larger greenhouse next to the original one. We enriched our soil with goat manure and covered the beds with fabric to keep the weeds at bay.

But then disaster struck. After the last spring frost on May 15th, a week of nonstop rain caused severe flooding. Our plot, just 500 meters from the Berounka River, was submerged under 2 meters of water. When the waters finally receded, we found that all our work had been washed away. Our seedlings were ruined, and our small operation felt like it was over before it had really begun.

That summer, we had a lot of time to reflect on our next steps. But as luck would have it, in autumn we met Mr. Václav Valenta, a gardener from Zbraslav, who gave us the opportunity to grow herbs in his family garden. Without him, we might never have made it this far.

A Fresh Start
2014 was a turning point. With a 22-meter greenhouse and a 50 m² growing area, we began producing herbs in a more professional way. We sold seedlings in spring, but soon realized that growing and selling fresh herbs alone wouldn’t cover our costs.

With an abundance of basil on our hands, we came up with a new idea – why not start making pesto? Inspired by our travels through Italy, we already knew where to source the best cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, and other essential ingredients. Our first big opportunity came when we were invited to sell our pesto at the FOOD Picnic event.

With the help of our friends Štěpán and Jana Vašák, we produced our first jars of pesto, using a carefully refined recipe. The event was a huge success, and soon we found ourselves flooded with new opportunities, including an offer to start a business dedicated to pesto production.

Going Solo
2015 brought more changes, both good and bad. We tried partnering with others to scale our business, but the collaboration didn’t work out as planned. So, we decided to go our own way. That year, we also started growing chilli peppers alongside our herbs, harvesting 18 kg of Jalapenos, Chile de Arbol, Habaneros, Cherry Bombs, and other varieties in autumn. With the help of our friend Urban Arsenjuk, we perfected our first chilli sauce recipes – a move that would define our brand in the years to come.


The Birth of Zach’s Pesto & Chilli
In 2016, we officially founded Zach’s Pesto & Chilli s.r.o., turning our passion into a full-fledged business.

From those early days in a small rented field to our current operations, we’ve come a long way – but we never forget our roots. Today, we continue to grow our own herbs, craft our own pestos, and produce unique chilli sauces for food lovers around the world.

Thank you for being part of our journey. 🌱🔥