Here's to a new year!

After an intense autumn, during which we brought many exciting projects to life, launched new products, visited trade fairs, and packed countless parcels with love, we look back on these past months with deep gratitude – and with just as much anticipation for the new year.

The holidays provided me not only with a well-deserved break but also a valuable opportunity for reflection. Away from digital distractions, surrounded by friends who have been part of my life for many years, I was once again reminded of the power and nourishment of genuine connections. A quote I came across while reading beautifully captures this: Blood makes you kin, but love makes you family. It is this love and connection that strengthens us, inspires us and shows us what really matters - moments of closeness, sharing and community.

This is also the focus of Franziska Schutzbach's book, Revolution of Connection, which I had the chance to read during the days between Christmas and New Year. In it, she challenges us to move beyond outdated roles and patriarchal norms, encouraging us instead to create relationships rooted in solidarity and shared values. Her reflections are a powerful call for real connections – with ourselves, with one another, and with a world that can be both just and more sustainable.

These values also shape our work at Marai. Our products tell stories – stories of the connection to the nature that surrounds us, the people and the region that make them possible. This year, we aim to carry these values forward, implementing new ideas and products that reflect our passion for sustainability and quality. A few exciting projects are already on the way, and much is still open – perhaps you have an idea of what could fit into our portfolio? We look forward to your suggestions and to shaping a year full of new possibilities together.