For a long time, the dairy industry in Russia developed slowly. Significant contributions to its development were made by industrialists Vereshchagin and Blandov, but it was factory owner Alexander Vasilyevich Chichkin who took it to a new level. He was born in 1862 into a simple working-class family in the village of Koprino, Yaroslavl province. At that time, Vereshchagin and Blandov were opening schools to teach children the basics of dairy production, and Chichkin was among the students. He showed good results and later successfully enrolled in the Petrov Agricultural Academy.

After graduating from the academy in 1888, Alexander Vasilyevich took out a loan and opened his first dairy store in Moscow. As an experienced specialist, Chichkin carefully selected raw materials, categorically refusing diluted milk and pasteurization, insisting on the freshness of the products. To demonstrate this, his employees poured spoiled milk straight into the sewer in front of passersby. The business became profitable, and Chichkin opened several more stores in Moscow. In the early 20th century, he considered milk processing and founded a large factory. The products were in high demand, and retail outlets appeared in various cities from Little Russia to Siberia. Over time, Russian products began to be exported to Europe and won awards at exhibitions.

A special system of employee incentives was in place: salaries were increased, bonuses were paid, and percentages for seniority and achievements were awarded. However, discipline was strict; employees had to keep their workplaces in perfect cleanliness and avoid defects, with fines for violations. After the October Revolution of 1917, all enterprises were taken over by the Bolsheviks. Chichkin found himself in places of detention several times, but he bore no grudge against the new authorities and continued to consult on dairy production until his death.