The company “Agrokipoi Nestou” was founded by Savvas Argyrakis, a farmer, and Lazaros Giogkis, an economist with many years of experience in standardization and trade. The two young entrepreneurs, seizing the opportunity provided by the Regional Operational Program of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, decided to combine their strengths and expertise to create a modern unit for the standardization, processing, and packaging of fresh vegetables — the first of its kind in their area of operation.
“The idea behind our business is simple, but the demand for our product is satisfactory and likely increasing, with great benefits for consumers. The program gave us the push we needed. We saw the opportunity and seized it to bring our plans to life.“,” Mr. Giogkis tells us.
The “Agrokipoi Nestou” offer classic vegetables, cut and washed, ready for consumption both by household consumers and catering businesses. Their raw materials, which come predominantly from Greece, are stored and processed with great care and strict adherence to all necessary protocols, ensuring that the freshness and nutritional value of the vegetables offered are preserved.
"Consumers are sometimes cautious. They worry about the quality and nutritional content of packaged salads. However, the way our vegetables are handled ensures a longer shelf life without the addition of preservatives. It’s a product that is also cost-effective for the consumer—in the end, what you gain far outweighs what you lose. It’s definitely worth trying," they say.
The current trend demands convenience, speed, and quality choices. Limited time due to family and professional commitments has increased the popularity of ready meals and fast food. Salads offer an additional advantage as they form a key part of a healthy diet. In this context, the offering of “Agrokipoi Nestou” goes beyond simply providing a ready-to-eat product. The company provides consumers with a variety of vegetables that are hard to find in a traditional greengrocer’s shop, and this throughout the entire year. For example, instead of buying a whole head of lettuce weighing 300 grams — which might not be entirely consumed — the customer purchases a 100-gram package of assorted clean vegetables, ready to eat. In this way, the owners essentially contribute to improving everyday nutrition by offering quality, healthy solutions that save time and effort.
The company’s fresh salads, marketed under the brand name mama salad, are available in 5 different varieties and 2 package sizes. They are based on a mix of fresh vegetables, including cabbage, carrot, arugula, iceberg lettuce, radicchio, as well as various types of lettuce.
The company has established a strong distribution network in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region, collaborating with major chains such as Masoutis, as well as regional supermarkets like Gountsidis and Kantzas, along with mini markets and greengrocers. They also supply the military, providing their products to military stores, Officers’ Clubs, and Recreation Centers (K.A.A.Y.) in the area. The “mama salad” products are also served in hospitality businesses such as event centers, taverns, restaurants, and hotels in Thasos, Xanthi, and other cities across the region.
Additionally, the company is preparing to further expand after the summer into the Thessaloniki market with its own warehouses and a new distribution network. The goal is to meet the growing demand for their products, which are already available in the wholesale vegetable market of the city.
No business journey, of course, is without challenges. Initially, “Agrokipoi Nestou” faced liquidity issues, as Mr. Giogkis points out: “When you make a new business move… the main problem is the lack of liquidity.” Nevertheless, support from the banks and participation in the funding program helped the company overcome these obstacles and stabilize.
Through the action “Support for the establishment of enterprises, prioritizing sectors of the Regional Smart Specialization Strategy (Action 3a.4.2)” under the Operational Program “Eastern Macedonia and Thrace 2014-2020,” the entrepreneurs significantly upgraded their infrastructure. Specifically, with the support of the SME Competitiveness Department of ena Development Consultants and under the guidance of Evi Voivatopoulou, Coordinator of Consulting Services for the SME Competitiveness Sector, the entrepreneurs implemented a series of construction works and acquired modern state-of-the-art machinery, including a cutting machine, conveyor belt, washed vegetable collection machine, drying machine, weighing scale, and a vertical packaging machine with gas flushing to extend product shelf life. Additionally, they procured computers and office equipment. Following the completion of their investment plan, the entrepreneurs state they are ready to seek additional funding through future programs to continue their growth.
“Of course, we definitely want to participate in another funding program; there are many things we could accomplish,” Mr. Giogkis tells us.
Η συμβολή της ena Σύμβουλοι Ανάπτυξης ήταν εξίσου καθοριστική για την πορεία της “Αγρόκηποι Νέστου”, όπως αναφέρει ο ίδιος: «Η συνεργασία μας ήταν άψογη. Είναι μια ομάδα συνεργατών που έχει οργάνωση, αποτελεσματικότητα και αξιοπιστία». Η υποστήριξη αυτή έδωσε στους ιδρυτές την αυτοπεποίθηση και τα απαραίτητα εργαλεία για να προχωρήσουν με την υλοποίηση του επιχειρηματικού τους οράματος.
The ambitions of “Agrokipoi Nestou” do not stop here. The owners plan to expand into the retail and catering markets of other Greek cities and to develop new product lines, such as short-shelf-life fruit salads and fresh potatoes, while simultaneously exploring entry into the important Balkan markets relevant to their product range.
Mr. Giogkis sends an important message to new entrepreneurs: “It takes patience, persistence, and not to get discouraged, because the difficulties are greater in the beginning than the successes. The key is to believe in your product and to maintain consistency and perseverance.”
Στη δημιουργία της 33ης Business Story συμμετείχαν οι Βάλια Ρέστα, Σύμβουλος Ανάπτυξης Τομέα Ανταγωνιστικότητας ΜμΕ, Giannis Kaltsas“Development Consultant for Development Law Services & Business Development, and the Marketing team of ena Development Consultants.
Thank you to the company “Agrokipoi Nestou” for the hospitality and the interesting tour, and to Mr. Giogkis for the friendly conversation.
