The businessman Christos Papadimitriou died at the age of 44, having fought bravely for his life since last year.
After taking over the reins of the family business since 2004, Papadimitriou HK ABET, famous for the innovative products “Kalamata Papadimitriou” and especially for the world original balsamic vinegar produced from 100% black Corinthian raisins, Christos Papadimitriou is a worthy successor to the Messinian food industry, founded by his namesake grandfather in 1939.
The deceased, who left life so early, managed to leave his mark on the business by creating more sophisticated products from the raisin – once the “black gold” of Greece – such as balsamic creams and mustard of the Mediterranean, bringing a new dynamic to the family. business business, which exports to 30 countries, from America to the Ivory Coast.
Under his guidance from 2006 to 2013, the total turnover of the company based in Thuria Messinia doubled. In 2013, the company’s turnover exceeded 10.1 million euros compared to 4.6 million euros in 2006. In that year, Kalamata Papadimitriou joined the international Endeavor network, becoming the first Greek company in the food sector to become a member.
First, the raisin
The story of Papadimitriou HK ABET begins in 1939 when Christos Papadimitriou, who came from Patras, decided to settle in Kalamata, first a warehouse and then a factory to trade and export the local products of Kalamata, such as dried figs, Kalamon olives, oil olive and some black Corinthian raisins.
From the 1950s, it gradually focuses on raisins and makes a difference by entering the difficult and demanding market of Great Britain. The transfer and modernization of the factory were the necessary conditions for the success of the new enterprise to expand to new markets, such as the Netherlands and Germany.
Consolidation abroad
In the 70s, his son Konstantinos joined the family business after studying at the famous Bordeaux oenology school.
Afterwards, he develops the company further, consolidating its position abroad, as one of the most important export companies in the field of raisins. In particular, he succeeds in exporting standardized raisins to the demanding English supermarkets.
Somewhere in the late 90s, that is, at the time when the “people” were discovering the joy of arugula-parmesan, Konstantinos Papadimitriou launched “Kalamata Papadimitriou Balsamic Vinegar”.
With a recipe based on the traditional “glukadi” vinegar that has always been produced in Messinia, this new taste proposal quickly engaged consumers, making it very high in their preferences.
At the same time, however, Kalamata balsamic vinegar also made a great debut in foreign markets, appearing in some of the best delicatessens in the world.
The idea and studies at the University of Piraeus.
Years passed and Constantinos Papadimitriou was assisted by his sons Christos and Dimitris.
With their own contribution, the company took another step forward by creating Mediterranean Balsamon products. The idea for this new series is implemented by Christos Papadimitriou with studies in Organization and Business Administration at the University of Piraeus, and Dimitris Papadimitriou has visual design after studying graphic design at the University of Applied Sciences of Athens.
Inspired by Greek tradition, the Balsamon range (aged balsamic vinegar and mustard enriched with Mediterranean ingredients and balsamic vinegar) has won important international awards, while at the same time the Messianic company’s field of interest is expanding even further .
In 2023, the turnover of the Papadimitriou family business, where 51 people are employed, was 5.187 million euros compared to 4.660 euros in the previous fiscal year 2022, an increase of 11.31%, and gross profits amounted to 2.20 million euros from 1 4870. million euros in 2022 an increase of 48.97%.