Pioneering Greeks: Thanos & Panos Kloutsiniotis, Founders of Ladolea Olive Oil

Welcome to “Pioneering Greeks”, the weekly column of GTP Headlines, which highlights the Greeks that stand out for their creative thinking in the business world. “Pioneering Greeks” is a collaboration between LoveGreece.com and Greek Travel Pages (GTP).

This week we introduce Thanos & Panos Kloutsiniotis, two brothers in their late 20s that have an ambitious vision not just to make a commercially successful product, but also to pay tribute to their heritage and show the world the potential of their homeland: Ladolea Olive Oil.

A brand offering superior quality extra virgin olive oil from the historical region of Corinthia in the Peloponnese, Ladolea is truly worth one’s while for many reasons. The idea came to Thanos and Panos Kloutsiniotis after a visit to their place of origin, the seaside village of Melissi, where they happened upon the olive harvest. Deciding to focus on two indigenous varieties, they worked with specialists to ensure the best possible quality in all stages of olive oil production and looked for packaging which would safely protect its content while echoing history.

“We collaborate directly with selected olive producers and offer them consultation and seminars”, says Panos, a Chemical Engineer who deals with production and quality control. “Their only concern is how to cultivate the olives properly, and we take care of the oil extraction process”. Having studied Economics, Thanos deals with the business aspects of Ladolea. “Apart from Greece, our products are available in concept stores, delicatessen and boutique hotels in Europe –in France, Germany and Belgium– and the US”, he says. “Our future goal is to enter new markets and maintain a strong position in more countries”.

Another interest of theirs is the Corinthian Cluster of Young Entrepreneurs. “The aim is to connect the local gastronomy with tourism and culture, and promote a unified image for the region”, explains Panos. “Producers of local food products, such as snails, honey, organic raisins, vinegar, grape syrup, Goji Berries, olive spread and breadsticks, join forces with hotels offering themed experiences and with local cultural groups, making a combined effort to show the best our region has to offer.”

Inspired by the dynamism and creativity of the Greek entrepreneurial spirit, LoveGreece was founded in 2013 as an initiative to boost and promote the country’s image abroad by profiling talented and successful Greeks. With their ethos and vision, Greece’s entrepreneurs and professionals are an important aspect of the country worth highlighting to the world. LoveGreece is powered by Gina Mamidaki, the founder of the G & A Mamidakis Foundation.

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Εμπνευσμένο από τον δυναμισμό και τη δημιουργικότητα του ελληνικού επιχειρηματικού πνεύματος, το LoveGreece ιδρύθηκε το 2013 σαν μια πρωτοβουλία για την ενίσχυση και την προώθηση της εικόνας της χώρας στο εξωτερικό, παρουσιάζοντας ταλαντούχους Έλληνες με εξωστρεφή νοοτροπία. Οι Έλληνες επιχειρηματίες αποτελούν σημαντικό παράγοντα της χώρας που αξίζει να παρουσιαστεί σε όλο τον κόσμο. Το LoveGreece υποστηρίζεται από την Τζίνα Μαμιδάκη, Πρόεδρο του Ιδρύματος Γ. & Α. Μαμιδάκη.

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