宜蘭礁溪向來以好山好水著稱，這兒有家矗立在寧靜田野中的工廠，不但不會製造污染，每天還生產出一箱箱美味但無香料及化學添加物的天然飲品，供應給知名高級餐廳、有機商店，甚至賣到國外去。「潤泉國際」的掌舵者陳啟能就跟他們的產品一樣，樸實而低調。從小跟隨日式作風的父親，作事一絲不苟，管理十分嚴格，承諾絕對信守。
關於潤之泉的誕生，陳啟能回憶：「1998年的冬天一家老字號的飲料公司因營運不佳，準備關門大吉時，其中一位股東，也就是我的父親突然問我敢不敢接下這家只剩二十年的老舊機器;以及駕動不到十天產能的工廠。當時猶豫之際，突然想到父親曾經告訴過我，他國中畢業，半工半讀，白手起家一路奮鬥的過程，這時我的一股門志湧上心頭，決定闖出一番成果給父親看看。」從此陳啟能用盡全部精力重寫潤泉公司的歷史。
一開始必須安內攘外，一則找回部分老員工，安撫工作情緒，以便能重新生產; 一則隻身前往新加坡拜會唯一僅存的客戶，請他繼續給予支持，如此一步一步的向前邁進。
後來為了打開市場，增加訂單，以低價自創礦泉水品牌打入一家連鎖大賣場，當時國外品牌尚未大舉侵台，一枝獨秀之下好不容昜有了點成績，產品繼而在全國曝光。但不久之後卻因品質出現瑕疵，只得緊急全面回收，「記得當時我太太陪著我，開著小貨車，從北到南，到各分店領出瑕疵品，再找當地的資回收商，一瓶一瓶的處理掉，這時沮喪的情緒，真是難以言喻。」
得到了這次的教訓，陳啟能決定以穩紮穩打的方式，先從工廠改善開始，要求品質提升，並導入ISO標準作業規範，也爭取到知名品牌的代工生產訂單，包括知名宮廷料理餐廳的桂花酸梅湯。後來夫妻兩人因緣際會，加入環保志工行列。於是兩人決定開發純正天然的飲品。為了徹底實踐摒除諸如防腐劑、增稠劑、色素、奶精及香料之化學成份，還要保留食材順口溫潤，兩人在製程上費盡心思，終於研究出高溫滅菌的獨家秘方。產品一推出，果然叫好叫座。
其中最值得一提的是與一家環保公益團體合作，為導正消費者選擇，開發出完全天然，沒有化學添加物的養生飲品，如烏梅汁、人蔘蜜棗茶等，在有機商店上架推出之後，得到很大的迴響，還有不少網友在部落格上大力推薦，從此清楚定位出潤泉的產品必定健康天然的印象。
可惜的是，潤泉的產品多為人作嫁，而且光是外銷就佔了90%的營業額。熱愛故鄉土地的夫妻倆幾經思量，決定就用「潤之泉」為品牌，研發自有商品，並開始用網路來拓展行銷。在SOHOMALL顧問建議下，以「回歸大地 澄淨如泉」作為品牌精神標語，首支自有系列產品為黃金燕麥「養生樂活飲」，採用來自芬蘭EVI認證，無農藥、無化肥的黃金燕麥。捨棄一般精製加工過的燕麥粉，以整顆燕麥研磨萃取，保留整顆燕麥完整菁華，有杏仁、紅薏仁與堅果三種口味，並走平價策略。
這樣的飲品營養價值極高，價位卻如一般飲料，夫妻倆有信心在消費力道下垂但環保養生意識抬頭的年代，開創利人利己的新樂活商機。
Jiaosi, Ilan, is famous for its beautiful mountains and fresh water. There is a factory standing in the peaceful fields. It does not only not create any pollution but produces daily boxes of tasty natural drinks with no artificial flavours and chemical additives that will be supplied to famous exclusive restaurants, organic shops and even sold abroad. The CEO of Ruhn Chan International Co., Chi-Neng Chen, is simple and low-key just like his products. By following his father with Japanese style in his early age, he is meticulous, strictly managing the company and absolutely keeping promises.
Regarding the establishment of Ruhn Chan International Co., Chi-Neng Chen recalls: ” In the winter of 1998, there was an old drink company preparing to close due to bad business. My father, one of the shareholders, asked me if I dared to take over this factory with only 20 years old machines and a production capacity of less than 10 days. While I was hesitating, it suddenly occurred to me that my father once told me about the efforts of him to build up an existence from nothing by part work, part study after graduation from junior high school. It was the moment that I decided to make some achievements to show to my father.” Since then, Chen made all efforts to rewrite the history of Ruhn Chan International Co.
He started with preserving the peace at home and resist foreign invasion. One side he rehired the original employees and appeased the work atmosphere to re-production; on the other side, he went to Singapore alone to visit the only client to ask for continuing support. In this way he moved forward step by step.
Later, in order to penetrate the market and increase orders, he started to sell his own brand of mineral water at low price in a discount store chain. There were not many foreign brands in Taiwan at that time, so they finally had good business and the products started to be offered nationally. However, it was not before long when a flaw was found in the product, so the product had to be fully recalled immediately. “I remembered when I drove the van with my wife from north to south to pick up the defective products from each branch store and then went to local recyclers to deal with the products bottle by bottle, our frustration was ineffable.
With a lesson learned from this experience, Chi-Neng Chen decided to proceed steadily and step by step from improving the quality system of the factory and then implementing the ISO standard operation protocol. He also secured OEM orders from well-known brands including a sweet osmanthus plum juice of a royal court cuisine. Later this couple incidentally devoted themselves to volunteer work in environmental protection. Therefore they decided to produce pure natural drinks. In order to keep the smooth texture of the ingredients without adding any chemicals such as preservatives, thickeners, colour additives, creams and flavours, they put a lot of efforts on the production processes and finally worked out an exclusive recipe of heat sterilization. The product was well-received and popular upon its release.
The cooperation with a public environmental group is one of the things that deserve to be mentioned. In order to offer consumers’ correct choices, they developed 100% natural and no chemical additive drinks such as the Dark Prune Juice and the Ginseng-Date Tea, which were well-received upon its release in the organic shops and also strongly recommended by a lot of bloggers, which since then clearly established the healthy and natural impression of Ruhn Chan products.
Unfortunately, Ruhn Chan production is mostly for other companies and exports accounted for 90% of the revenue. After further consideration by the couple who love their hometown, they decided to create their own brand” Ruchan”and developed their own products and began to expand the marketing by internet. In the SOHOMALL consultant’s recommendations, they use “return to earth, clear like springs” as their spiritual slogan of the brand. Their first product is the “Nutritious Lohas Drink”made with oats that certified by EVI Finland and cultivated without any pesticide and chemical fertilizer. Without using processed oat flour, the whole oat is grounded and extracted to retain its complete essence. There are three flavours available including almonds, red adlays and nuts and are sold at low price.
This kind of drink has extremely high nutritional value but a price like common drinks. In the age of weak consumption but strong health care and environmental consciousness, this couple has confidence in building up a new business opportunity that benefits other people as well as themselves.
