Lazaros describes to us how with the right raw materials, the right process and with a lot of love you produce something natural that lasts over time ..!
Tell us a little bit about yourself? How did you get started? How did you come up with the idea to get involved with food?
It’s all started in the summer of 2015 when after 8 years of professional career in Athens
I found myself back on the starting line. Being an Agronomist – Food Technologist and always having the idea of a production line, I made the decision to create a small industry for the production of dried fruits in Xylokastro of Corinthia. Seven years later, our family business continues enriching its product catalogue always with respect to consumers, seeking to provide them with products of high nutritional value.
Tell us a little bit about the brand. What does he stand for? What purpose did you create it for?
“Τhirsty fruits” are made for all those who seek a healthier lifestyle and seek to “quench” the thirst of even the most demanding consumer. In a market full of imported dried fruits – full with preservatives, mainly sulphites and sugar, the dried fruits of Thirsty Fruits they come with their Greek origin, the natural way of drying them and the total absence of sugar and sulfur.
How did you get started? What difficulties did you face?
The difficulties are enough and are changing every time! Seven years ago, the biggest difficulties we had to solve were the acquisition of know-how around our products and equipment, the high production costs combined with the lack of private capital and the “acquisition” of strong relations with our customers.
Tell us about your products. What makes them different?
In relation to the majority of products on the market, we would say that our products are different in relation to their origin and the way they are dried. The combination of a lot of good sorting in the field and the slow drying rate, allows us not to add any sugar to our fruits and so that they owe their sweet taste, purely to the natural sugars of the fruit.
Tell us about the raw materials?
The fruits we choose to process come mainly from the prefecture of Corinthia and all are Greek. Our suppliers are only Greek producers, that is our first rule. Our goal is to promote the superiority of the Greek countryside while supporting our local community.
Are there any of your products that stand out?
We process all our products with the same love! If I had to single out any, these would be the plum and the apricot, with the last one having been placed on the company’s logo. The reason is none other than that, precisely because we do not use sulfur in drying, the apricot of our company stands out and stands only, with its dark color, against the yellow dried apricots with the sulfur of the competition. The plum, on the other hand, stands out for its sweet taste and those of our customers who try it, applaud it and prefer it!
Can Greek producers make a difference in the midst of the crisis?
Difficult but not impossible! A shift towards production and a reduction in imports while increasing exports would be a way out of the crisis. Unfortunately, according to my personal opinion the challenge there, is that among all the other obstacles, our mentality should be partially changed…
Why did you choose to participate in and support the Wise Greece Movement?
Because we consider your idea excellent, we believe in solidarity and we hope in a world where there will be mutual help..!! These days, more than ever..
