From “Evgefston” produced in Kalloni village, to «Stani» in the USA
The story begins with a small family farm in the village of Kalloni.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
From the age of three, Ignatius Vassilellis started learning and mastering all traditional knowledge and required skills through his family experience working in the farm.
The project kicked-off in Mytilene island in the year 2012, brewing in a small privately owned unit of Kalloni yogurt, rice pudding and cheese, to gradually grow and reach by 2016 to lie the foundation of the only dairy industry producing Greek yogurt in the United States using the traditional drainage method.
Initially the production unit in Kalloni distributed the products of the “Delicious” (translation of the “Evgefston”) brand in the local market of Greece in the supermarkets chains of Athens and Thessaloniki. Now, the US factory distributes Greek-style yogurt in four US states, employing eight people, and its products have been placed in American supermarket chains’ shelves and in all Greek Manhattan restaurants, in cooperation with US wholesalers.
The second venture has been the “Stani Dairy”, a Greek yogurt food service jointly promoted at the Dairy’s core business specialized in food service, the second-largest player in the US consisting of Greek yogurt 4.5kg packaged units thus achieving to reach an 80% of its overall turnover. As per the retail market, the company has launched five individual 150-gram packages (plain, honey, blueberry, strawberry and peach).
“Stani Dairy”’s plan is to expand its brand across the US, and by the end of 2019 Mr. Vassilellis plans to invest 400,000 euros to quadruple its production capacity, reaching 40 tons of strained yogurt per month.
Also by returning to Greece, already possessing the “Stani Dairy” brand, there is an optimistic scenario for opening a local production plant in 2021. The forecasted cost is estimated at 3 - 5 million that has already being budgeted aiming at the production of yogurt and feta cheese, having as purpose to promoting them to the US market and exporting products at a 90% of the plant’s production. The additional plans also encompass to concurrently strengthen and promote local producers.