Tell us a few things about yourselves. How did you get started? What inspired you to get involved in the food industry?
Mama Irene is a unique handmade pasta atelier for discerning palates.
It all started in 2009 in Kastanas, Thessaloniki, by Mama Irene and Grandma Anna, who began crafting and offering their exquisite handmade pasta at the old grocery store that once belonged to Grandpa.
In 2020, the next generation—us, Christina and Kostas—fully took over the workshop. Though it wasn’t exactly a lucky start, as it coincided with the outbreak of COVID, followed by war, relentless price increases across the board, and major shortages of raw materials…
However, amid all that, people started cooking more at home, became familiar with online shopping, and had more time to get better informed about the foods they were choosing to consume. As a result, demand for healthy products increased.
Tell us a bit about the brand. What does it represent? What was your purpose in creating it?
At Mama Irene, we don’t just produce pasta—we create edible art. With great dedication and respect for what we do, we’ve managed to earn the love of the most demanding and critical audience: children—and, by extension, new moms. It’s no coincidence that we were the first in Greece (in the food category) to receive the global Loved By Parents award, held annually in London, where we won the Gold Award for Best Baby Food 6+ months.
Tell us about your products. What makes them different?
If you’re asking us, no—we don’t make baby food. It’s just that our products are so pure and natural that they’re often chosen as some of the first foods for infants. We ourselves have two young children, so we fully understand what people are looking for and strive to provide it.
What difficulties have you faced and how have they affected your journey?
Although last year we closed with over 50% in exports, we’ve encountered some challenges… There’s a lack of competition in our niche, which means the market doesn’t easily grasp how different our product is—they just focus on the price. At least until they try it.
To keep our business sustainable, we decided to strengthen our brand identity. We participated successfully in both national and international award competitions:
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Specialist Producer of the Year 2023
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Great Taste Awards 2023
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Great Taste Awards 2021
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Mediterranean Taste Awards Gold 2021
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Gourmet Exhibition Silver in “Special Nutrition” 2021
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Loved By Parents Gold – “Best Food Range 6 months +” 2021
We started collaborating with bloggers, refreshed our website, created our own e-shop, and launched a new line of organic pasta made with 100% legume flour and fresh vegetables, targeting the organic market.
Our goal is to bring our products to as many households as possible. We’re preparing for upcoming exhibitions and creating an interactive space where parents and children can visit, meet us, and learn about nutrition—always in collaboration with certified professionals.
Additionally, through our website, we’ve launched the #pastaforamission initiative, aiming to support meals for children in need in any way we can.
Why did you choose to participate in and support the Wise Greece Movement?
In collaboration with Wise Greece, we created a line of products from which the profits go towards buying food for soup kitchens and institutions. This ensures our contribution is Continuous and Sustainable—so that our social impact lasts and isn’t just a one-time gesture.
Above all, we are human—and each of us will do our best in our own way.
