At the foothills of the Rhodope mountain range and northwest of Lake Vistonida, in Sounio, Xanthi, Sofia Sevastou-Konstantinidou and her family welcomed us to their traditional pasta workshop named “Sofia’s Gefseis” (“Sofia’s Flavors”) and introduced us to the secrets of Thracian gastronomy.
“Sofia’s Gefseis” is a small family-owned business that has remained true to its vision since its founding in 2012: to revive the Thracian culinary tradition through the production of high-quality products. The company’s fine pasta is made exclusively with pure, locally sourced ingredients, free from preservatives and artificial colorings, making it an excellent choice for healthy eating for the whole family.
Ms. Sofia Sevastou-Konstantinidou, her husband Mr. Kostas Konstantinidis, and their son Dimitris — who represents both the present and the future of the business — shared with us the story and journey of this beautiful entrepreneurial endeavor that “dives into the past but keeps its eyes fixed on the future.” Let’s get to know them better.
The economic crisis in the early part of the previous decade found Ms. Sofia and her husband, Mr. Kostas, working in the private sector. The atmosphere of uncertainty prompted the family to make the bold decision in 2011 to start their own business. A business where they could lovingly and passionately create local Thracian products with flavors and aromas “just like in the old days.” The name “Sofia’s Gefseis” was chosen after the owner and main pasta maker, Sofia, and as a tribute to the “Sofia” of tradition. Valuing the knowledge of the past and utilizing today’s technology, Ms. Sofia and her family showcase Thracian gastronomy by producing pasta of exceptional quality.
Ms. Sofia: “We love creating; we craft traditional pasta with loveSofia and Flavor.”
The company Sofia’s Gefseis, in collaboration with ena Development Consultants, implemented an investment plan under the initiative "Upgrading very small and small enterprises to develop their capabilities in new markets," which helped address production and promotion challenges related to their pasta products. More specifically, through this initiative, the company acquired pasta production equipment that enabled them to quintuple their production capacity. The increase in production capacity and reduction in preparation time allowed Sofia’s Gefseis to dedicate more time to the distribution and promotion of their products. Additionally, through the investment plan, the company launched its own website, opening the door to the digital world and expanding its customer base beyond the immediate area of Xanthi. With the support of the initiative, the company also invested in advertising and promotional materials and participated in related trade fairs such as Detrop and Food Expo.
Η επιχείρηση “Sofia’s Gefseis” υλοποίησε σε συνεργασία με την ena Development Consultants επενδυτικό σχέδιο στη δράση “Αναβάθμιση πολύ μικρών και μικρών επιχειρήσεων για την ανάπτυξη των ικανοτήτων τους στις νέες αγορές“, που την βοήθησε να αντιμετωπίσει τα θέματα παραγωγής και προώθησης των ζυμαρικών που προέκυψαν. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, μέσω της δράσης η επιχείρηση προμηθεύτηκε εξοπλισμό παραγωγής ζυμαρικών με τον οποίο καταφερε να πενταπλασιάσει την παραγωγική της δυναμικότητα. Η αύξηση της παραγωγικής δυναμικότητας και η μείωση του χρόνου παρασκευής, επέτρεψαν στην επιχείρηση “Sofia’s Gefseis” να αφιερώσει περισσότερο χρόνο στη διανομή και στην προώθηση των προϊόντων της. Παράλληλα, μέσω του επενδυτικού σχεδίου, η επιχείρηση απέκτησε τη δική της ιστοσελίδα που της άνοιξε την πόρτα του ψηφιακού κόσμου, διευρύνοντας έτσι το πελατολόγιο της επιχείρησης πέρα από τα στενά όρια της ευρύτερης περιοχής της Ξάνθης. Με τη βοήθεια της δράσης επίσης, η επιχείρηση επένδυσε σε διαφημιστικό και προωθητικό υλικό, ενώ συμμετείχε και σε εκθέσεις σχετικές με το αντικείμενο της (Detrop, Food Expo).
Zoi Tsakiridou, Information Systems Development Consultant at ena Development Consultants, with extensive experience in preparing applications for ESPA funding programs, took charge of implementing the investment plan for the company “Sofia’s Gefseis,” and their collaboration proved to be a perfect match. Ms. Sofia’s family has already completed a second funding program with our company and is soon preparing to collaborate again with the ena team as part of a new initiative.
Ms. Sofia: “We consider ena as our partners.”
The flavorful family story of “Sofia’s Gefseis” began in 2012 with the production of 9 product codes and a small distribution network that developed mainly through personal connections in the wider Xanthi area. From the start, the owners aimed to create pasta that would evoke memories of the aromas and tastes from mom’s kitchen.
Today, “Sofia’s Gefseis” produces 21 product codes, including hilopites (traditional egg noodles), pappardelle, couscous, as well as the innovative Thracian trachanas with tahini. These products are based on Thracian tradition while taking into account current nutritional trends and modern consumer needs. The pasta acquires its distinctive colors by being “dyed” with natural vegetable purees (carrot, spinach, and beetroot), giving them their unique appearance.
How can you find “Sofia’s Gefseis” pasta? Interested customers can now purchase the company’s products at selected delicatessens, neighborhood mini-markets, restaurants, and grocery stores in Xanthi, as well as in Athens, Thessaloniki, Serres, Halkidiki, and several locations in Thessaly. Additionally, “Sofia’s Gefseis” has exported its products to five European countries so far, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, and Bulgaria. Finally, small quantities of flavors from Thracian tradition are also available in the United States.
Το ChatGPT είπε: All this growth came from the family members’ determination to stay closely involved with all developments in their industry and to continuously invest in their products and business. From the very beginning, the company recognized the importance of marketing and promotion, actively participating in numerous exhibitions since 2013, including the Detrop exhibition, where it won an award in 2016 for its handmade packaging. “Sofia’s Gefseis” also innovates in the digital world, where anyone visiting their website can discover a wealth of traditional recipes for delicious and flavorful pasta dishes!
With tradition as its guide and continuous innovation as its goal, the company “Sofia’s Gefseis” stands out both for the pure ingredients it uses and the quality of its final products. Although it is a business rooted in traditional products, “Sofia’s Gefseis” is a modern company that consistently invests in new, innovative flavors and expanding the variety of tastes it offers. Their latest innovation is oat tagliatelle, an idea from Dimitris, the Production and Management Engineer from the Polytechnic of Xanthi, who represents the “future” of “Sofia’s Gefseis.” After all, the family’s desire is to keep evolving traditional Thracian recipes, adapting them to the demands of contemporary nutrition.
Dimitris: "Evolution is continuous, we are constantly thinking of new products and flavors."
Future plans for the business include further increasing production and expanding its customer base. Another key goal is to develop greater export activity, so that traditional Thracian gastronomy becomes known and loved in more places.
Despite the ongoing challenges faced by a small family business—most recently the rising costs of raw materials—Ms. Sofia and her family remain dedicated to their goal, continuing to produce their exquisite traditional pasta without compromising on quality.
More information about the traditional pasta workshop “Sofia’s Gefseis” can be found:
Sounio, Xanthi
Τ. 2541031630, 6937547565
Remember Business Story #1: Le Fondant!!
