Kristi Dukoff built Kristi's Kraftails from a small idea in 2022 into a business that keeps her running between seven and 11 events a week, but for the next few months she's stepping away from all of it. Dukoff is preparing for surgery to remove a mass she describes as sitting on top of her organs, and she expects to be unable to work for about three months while she recovers.
A Mass Described as the Size of a Basketball
“I have a giant mass that's on top of all my organs,” Dukoff said, according to WJAR, which reported she is planning to undergo surgery to have the mass removed and hopes it is not cancerous. A separate account from East Bay RI described the mass as extremely large, about the size of an NBA basketball, pressing on and spreading across several of her organs. That outlet also reported that doctors said a biopsy must be performed before moving forward with urgent surgery.
The outlet's report also noted that she won't be able to work for at least three months and said her health insurance isn't enough to cover the resulting bills. Notably, East Bay RI's report refers to the business owner as Kristi (Dukoff) Little, while WJAR's reporting identifies her as Kristi Dukoff.
From a Pregnancy-Friendly Idea to a Full-Time Business
Dukoff launched Kristi's Kraftails in 2022, originally intending to offer pregnant women a fresh, natural beverage option with low sugar and no alcohol, per the station's report. The brand has since grown into a company creating specialty drinks for everyone to enjoy, connecting with thousands of followers across social media and bringing her drinks to communities throughout Rhode Island. She maintains more than 20 wholesale accounts alongside her packed events schedule, the same account notes.
Kristi's Kraftails has built its reputation on locally sourced, seasonally inspired mocktails and locally roasted seasoned nuts, according to an earlier East Bay RI report, which described her Kraftails as vegan, low-sugar and gluten-free. That same coverage noted she once ran a pop-up shop featuring more than 60 area vendors, artisans and producers, reflecting the kind of local-business network now showing up to support her.
Community Support Takes Shape
Word of Dukoff's diagnosis has set off messages and phone calls of support from the community, and a GoFundMe has been set up to help support her during her health journey, as reported by WJAR. Accounts differ on which local business first organized that support: WJAR reports that Johnston Farm Stand in Ashley launched a fundraising effort to help Dukoff during her time away from work, while East Bay RI reports that Johnson's Roadside Market sparked what she calls a “love train” of support.
“The community really surrounds you when something like this happens,” Dukoff said, per the station's report. She added that she feels lucky to be surrounded by a loving community and said she is supported by love. Fans and customers can still find her brand and updates through her Kristi's Kraftails Facebook page, which describes the line as locally sourced, seasonally inspired kraft mocktails meant to be enjoyed with or without booze added.
A Business Riding a Bigger Beverage Trend
Dukoff's pause comes amid a broader shift in what Rhode Islanders are drinking. At Inked Restaurant Group, mocktails and non-alcoholic beers now make up about 5 percent of bar sales, according to Hey Rhody, which also reported that a lot of younger people are more interested in lower-ABV beverages. That growing appetite for alternatives to traditional cocktails has helped carve out space for niche producers like Kristi's Kraftails to build a loyal following across the state.
For now, Dukoff has put her business on hold as she focuses on her health, leaning on the same community that has supported her weekly events and wholesale accounts for the past few years. Her story, as laid out by WJAR, is one of a small-business owner pausing a fast-growing venture to confront a serious health scare, with neighbors stepping in to fill the gap while she recovers.
