For Tursyngali Turymuly Alaguzov, his entrepreneurial journey began back in the 1990s — a time when instability went hand in hand with new opportunities. Trading, his first commercial ventures, cooperation with Chinese partners, and a constant search for new ideas gradually led him to a pivotal decision: to establish his own manufacturing business.
“For some, the 1990s were a time of fear and instability; for others, they were a time of new opportunities. For me, that period became the catalyst for taking a major step forward. I became a businessman and experienced all the ups and downs of buying and selling. It was never particularly difficult for me because I had been selling things since childhood,” recalls Tursyngali Alaguzov.
From 1994 to 1997, he worked with Chinese partners, exporting construction materials. He now describes that period as an important and invaluable life experience. His frequent trips to China not only gave him a deeper understanding of trade, but also drew his attention to products that could potentially find their place in the Kazakh market.
One day, he became interested in iced tea — green tea infused with jasmine and honey.
“I really liked the taste of that tea, and I thought: ‘Why don’t we have a drink like this in Kazakhstan?’ And when I get an idea, I don’t stop until I make it happen.”
That thought eventually grew into a dream of establishing his own production. In 1998, production of “Khrustalnaya” bottled water began, and what started as a small venture gradually developed into a substantial manufacturing business.
The early years demanded his complete involvement. He personally handled everything from organizing operations and finding customers to delivering products and developing sales. As production volumes grew, it became increasingly clear that taking the business further would require a strong team and proper manufacturing infrastructure.
In 2004, the company built its first plant in the Altai-2 residential district. In 2007, a second plant was established on Suyunbay Avenue. Three years later, a third plant was acquired through an installment arrangement.
However, continued growth brought a new challenge. Three production sites meant three sets of equipment, laboratories, specialists, security teams, and logistics operations.
“There were so many issues to deal with that I felt like my head was splitting into three. That’s when I realized we needed to expand and bring all our production together in one place,” the entrepreneur recalls.
To implement the large-scale project, the company developed a business plan and approached a bank. The construction of the new plant required an investment of USD 100 million.
The loan was provided at an interest rate of 17%, with 6 percentage points subsidized by the state as part of its support measures. Cooperation with the Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund in Almaty Region became an important stage in the company’s development.
The support enabled the company to implement the new production project, purchase the necessary equipment, and consolidate its manufacturing capacity.
“Cooperation with the Damu Fund became an important stage in the development of our company. Work on the new facility had to be completed within a very tight timeframe. We had to deal with construction, utilities, equipment deliveries, and installation simultaneously.”
“I hardly slept at night back then. Borrowed money is a huge responsibility: interest accrues every day, while launching production depends on so many different factors.”
Despite the challenges, the plant was completed in just six months. Two months later, the company produced its first products. Bringing all production lines under one roof helped streamline operations, reduce costs, and significantly improve management efficiency.
For the entrepreneur, this stage was about more than simply expanding production facilities. It marked a new chapter in the company’s development.
“We didn’t simply build another plant. We brought our production together, optimized the business, and created a foundation for the company’s further growth.”
For Alaguzov, scale has never been an end in itself. He believes that a sustainable business is built first and foremost on quality and the ability to find and occupy the right niche.
“To be honest, what matters more to me is focusing on quality and niche products. Scale is certainly good, but if the product is of poor quality, no one will buy it, even if you produce it in huge quantities.”
In his view, this approach is what allows a company to earn consumers’ trust over many years. One of the clearest examples is “Maxi Chai,” which, as the entrepreneur notes, has been on the market for 22 years.
“We can proudly say that ‘Maxi Chai’ is not simply a brand, but a 22-year story. A story created in Kazakhstan that has become part of the lives of several generations of consumers.”
Over the years, the company has sought to maintain consistent quality while adapting to changes in the market.
“I believe the greatest risk for a business is to stop developing and stop asking yourself the question: ‘What can we do better?’”
Today, the company’s plans include further developing production, increasing capacity, introducing modern technologies, expanding its product range, and creating new products. At the same time, for Tursyngali Turymuly, business growth is closely connected with strengthening domestic manufacturing.
“We want to create high-quality, competitive products in Kazakhstan — products that we can be proud of not only at home, but beyond the country’s borders as well.”
The entrepreneur emphasizes that behind every result stands a strong team and years of consistent work. For him, the main motivation remains the opportunity to create, develop, and contribute to society.
“That is why, for me, business is not just about money or scale. It is about the opportunity to create, to grow, and to be of benefit to people. That is what remains my main motivation. If you genuinely bring value to people, then your business has a future,” the entrepreneur says.
The main lesson Tursyngali Turymuly has drawn from his entrepreneurial journey is the need to keep moving forward: not to be afraid to start small, to remain focused on quality, and to always remember who the product is being created for.
Today, Galanz Bottlers is a company whose products are familiar to millions of people in Kazakhstan, while “Maxi Chai” has become part of the everyday lives of several generations. Yet behind every familiar bottle lies years of hard work, bold decisions, and faith in one’s own vision.
A journey that began with a single idea ultimately led to the creation of a major domestic manufacturing business. In this way, Galanz Bottlers has built not only a successful company, but also a story that has become part of the pride of Kazakhstani business — a story of how one idea, backed by hard work and perseverance, can grow to a scale that reaches far beyond its original beginnings.
JSC “GALANZ BOTTLERS”
Address: 239B Suyunbay Avenue, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Tel.: +7 727 346 91 18
Email: info@galanz.kz
Instagram: galanz.bottlers