Contents
3 Company
4 Freshness & Quality
5
6
22
23
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Seasonality
Fruits
Network
Contact
Company
The Protofanousis family has been specializing
in the sale of fruit since 1922.
Today, the company is one of the largest exporters
in Northern Greece, with an annual turnover of 23
million euros.
It handles about 25 million kilos of fruit per year,
mostly of Greek origin, but with some kinds of fruit
imported from Argentina, Germany, Italy, Spain,
South Africa, Turkey and Chile.
It supplies products directly to large supermarket
chains in Greece and exports to European countries,
Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North America.
It employs 30 permanent staff and up to 150 staff
according to the season.
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It maintains refrigerated storage facilities and
packing plants in Thessaloniki with a total area of
7,500 sq.m., Controlled Atmosphere refrigerators
in Nea Ephesοs, Katerini, with a capacity of 8,000
tons, a distribution center in Thessaloniki’s central
vegetable market, and a warehouse-precooler in
Kerasia.
All procedures followed in cultivation, sorting,
packing and distribution have a single goal:
the production of standardized, high-quality,
safe products to meet the high standards of the
company as well as to comply with national and
European regulations.
Freshness & Quality
The quality of the fruit must be ensured at all stages
of production. It starts with cultivation, continues
with harvesting, sorting and packing, and ends with
distribution and preservation for the end customer.
Cultivation
Protofanousi requires strict adherence to certified
growing methods by its cooperating producers, who
are checked at regular intervals.
Distribution
It has organized a group of producers who grow
products certified to standards set by GlobalGAP
and Tesco Nurture. The aim is the effective
monitoring of primary producers to ensure the
growing of agricultural products under controlled
conditions without pesticide residues.
Products are distributed in Northern Greece in
privately owned refrigerated trucks, ensuring
freshness and flavor. Through its distribution center
in the Central Vegetable Market of Thessaloniki
the company supplies retailers and wholesalers in
different parts of northern Greece.
The company’s technical specialists, working with its
producer-suppliers, take care to ensure premium
quality Greek products.
In collaboration with a specialist company,
Protofanousi provides advice on cultivation to all its
suppliers.
Exports are carried out by partner companies
that meet the specifications needed to ensure the
freshness of the fruit.
Packing – Standardization
The company has developed and implemented
a Quality Assurance System in accordance with
international models such as the IFS Food Standard
and the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety within
whose framework the principles of HACCP (Hazard
Analysis Critical Control Point) are applied, with
emphasis on the healthiness and safety of packaged
products.
4
Sampling checks are performed continuously up to
the point of delivery, fruits are stored in refrigerated
chambers with ozone, and the investment the
company has made in software allows detailed
recording and tracking of all stages of the
production process and full product traceability
back from the consumer to the producer and vice
versa.
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Storage
Recommendations for the proper storage of each
fruit are available for all partners and customers of
Protofanousi.
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Seasonality
FRUIT
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Cherries
Kiwis
Plums
Strawberries
Apricots
Grapes
Mandarins
Lemons
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EXPORTABLE
Fruits
Cherries
Protofanousi is the largest Greek cherry exporter, annually
distributing about 4,000 tons. Its main markets are Great Britain,
Italy, Baltic countries and Germany, and the company has
recently extended its reach to countries in Southeast Asia.
The production comes from Pella and is fully certified by GlobalGAP
The fruit is first brought to a refrigerated storage facility maintained
by the company in Kerasia, Pella, in the center of a region where the
cherry is the main crop and cherry orchards extend into the foothills
of the Northern [Voras] Mountains to an altitude of 1,100 meters.
The cherries go through a precooling process with a special hydro
cooler at the same facility. Packing takes place the next morning
at the Protofanousi processing center at Ionia in Thessaloniki. A
sophisticated electronic calibrator ensures accurate sorting on the
basis of size and color.
Continuous monitoring of the cherry orchards and harvesting at the
appropriate stage of ripeness, in conjunction with maintaining the
“cold chain”, contributes to consistently high fruit quality. The quality
and excellent taste of the fruit are also due to the fact that much of
the land where the cherries are grown is quite dry. The main varieties
in an order based on harvesting date are as follows: Satin, Samba,
Larian, Crystalina, Georgia, Early Star, Grey Star, Black Star, Big Star,
Lapins, Bakirtzeika (Greek variety), Ferovia, Germensdorfer, Skenna,
Regina, Kordia, Sweet Heart.
Protofanousi cherries are packed as follows:
Packaging
Description
Net Weight
Dimensions
Cases/Pallet 100x120cm
Carton 5 kg
5 kg
40 x 30 x 12
150
2.5 kg
30 x 20 x 12
256
5 kg
60 x 40 x 10
115
Carton 2.5 kg
(Pituffo)
Carton
10 x 500 g
Seasonality
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct Nov Dec
In the table the months of harvest are indicated by the color orange.
Preservation Tips for consumers: Cherries may be kept in the
refrigerator for 3-5 days in a plastic bag and should be washed before
consumption. Avoid washing earlier, and allow the cherries time at
room temperature before serving for best flavor.
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Fruits
Kiwis
Protofanousi handles about 12,000 tons annually between
October and May and ranks at the top of the Greek companies
that market kiwis.
Almost all of the production is of the Hayward variety and most comes
from Pieria and Arta, two of the most suitable areas in Europe for kiwi
growing.
All production is certified by GlobalGAP.and Tesco Nurture. The
handling and storage of the fruit takes place in Nea Ephesos in Pieria
and the packing in Ionia in Thessaloniki. The fruit is transported in
privately owned refrigerator trucks from production to packing.
Continuous monitoring of kiwi orchards, oversight of harvesting by
agricultural experts, and determination of the right stage of ripeness
for the desired values of sugars and dry matter ensure the high
quality of the fruit.
Thanks to the advanced technology of Protofanousi’s storage facilities,
the fruit is kept under ideal conditions, contributing to a product that
can maintain its quality characteristics –flavor and firmness –for an
extended period.
The countries to which the company’s kiwis are exported include
China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Russia, Ukraine, most
European countries, South Africa, and Canada.
Kiwis are packed as follows;
Packaging
Description
Net Weight
Dimensions
Cases/Pallet 100x120cm
Single layer
carton
3 kg
50 x 30 x 7
256
Single layer
carton
5 kg
60 x 40 x 7
150
Carton
10 kg
10 kg
40 x 30 x 20
90
Covered
carton 10 kg
10 kg
40 x 30 x 20
110
Punnet
10 x 1 kg
10 kg
60 x 40 x 14
75
Seasonality
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct Nov Dec
In the table the months of harvest are indicated by the color orange.
Preservation Tips for consumers: Kiwis can be kept in the
kitchen refrigerator for about 4 weeks. If you want to ripen them, put
them in a bag - preferably a paper bag - along with a banana or an
apple for a day or two.
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Fruits
Plums
Protofanousi handles production and distribution of 1,000 tons
of plums per year, a volume that places it among the major plum
marketers in the country.
The production comes from Imathia, Pella and Pieria and is fully
certified by GlobalGAP Continuous monitoring of the plum orchards
and harvesting at the appropriate stage of ripeness, combined with
providing proper care for late varieties, helps maintain consistently
high fruit quality.
Immediately after harvesting, fruits are transported in private trucks
to the company’s main facilities in Thessaloniki, where, the following
morning, they are sorted and packed for the buyer or for long-term
storage.
The company distributes many varieties of plums – Black Star, Black
Amber, Black Diamond, Black Friar, T.C. Sun, Angeleno, October Sun,
Autumn Giant – of which Angeleno and to a lesser extent October Sun
and T.C. Sun exhibit desirable characteristics for long-term storage in
coolers.
The leading export markets for Protofanousi plums are Egypt, Great
Britain, Ukraine and Russia, and more recently the countries of Asia.
Protofanousi plums are packed as follows:
Packaging
Description
Net Weight
Dimensions
Cases/Pallet 100x120cm
Carton with
6 kg (loose)
6 kg
40 x 30 x 12
150
Carton with
6 kg (2 layers)
6 kg
40 x 30 x 12
150
10 x 1 kg
60 x 40 x 13
150
6 kg
60 x 40 x 9
150
10 x 1 kg
carton
Carton with 6
kg (1 layer)
Seasonality
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct Nov Dec
In the table the months of harvest are indicated by the color orange.
Preservation Tips for consumers: Plums should be stored in
the fridge, where they will keep7-10 days, and should be washed
before eating. It is best to bring them to room temperature before
consumption, so that they can attain their full flavor.
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Fruits
Strawberries
Strawberries have long been among the best known exported
Greek fruits. Protofanousi is one of the largest Greek exporters
of strawberries and handles about 2,000 tons annually between
December and May. The main markets are Russia, Romania, and
Bulgaria.
Production comes from the areas of Ilia and Pieria, fully certified
by GlobalGAP Packing is carried out during harvest because of
the sensitive nature of the fruit, which is then precooled in special
facilities maintained by the company at each production site.
Final quality control takes place at Protofanousi facilities in Ionia,
Thessaloniki, from which the fruit is sent to market.
Continuous monitoring of the strawberry fields and harvesting at the
proper stage of ripeness ensure the consistently high quality of the
fruit.
Strawberries are packed as follows:
Packaging
Description
Net Weight
Dimensions
Cases/Pallet 100x120cm
Wooden
box 5 kg
5 kg
50 x 30 x 12
136
Carton
10 x 500 g
5 kg
60 x 40 x 9
115
Carton
16 x 250 g
4 kg
60 x 40 x 9
115
Seasonality
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct Nov Dec
In the table the months of harvest are indicated by the color orange.
Preservation Tips for consumers: Strawberries are best eaten on
the day of purchase. They can be kept in the refrigerator for about 3-4
days, however. They should be thoroughly washed before consumption, without being allowed to become soggy.
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Fruits
Apricots
The volume of apricots distributed by Protofanousi approaches
1,000 tons annually, with an upward trend in recent years. The
varieties marketed are Tyrinthos, Orange Red and Farbaly which
come from Halkidiki and Pieria.
The freshly picked apricots are brought to the packing plant in
Thessaloniki, where according to the specific instructions of the buyer
they are sorted by size and weight and packaged for immediate
delivery, with no intervening storage time. The leading markets for
the company’s apricots are Russia, the Baltic countries, Germany, and
Ukraine.
Protofanousi apricots are packed as follows:
Packaging
Description
Net Weight
Dimensions
Cases/Pallet 100x120cm
Carton with
5 kg (loose)
5 kg
40 x 30 x 12
150
Carton with
5 kg (2 layers)
5 kg
40 x 30 x 12
150
10 x 1 kg
60 x 40 x 13
75
10 x 1 kg
carton
Seasonality
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct Nov Dec
In the table the months of harvest are indicated by the color orange.
Preservation Tips for consumers: Apricots should be stored
in the fridge, where they will keep 5-7 days, and should be washed
before eating. If they are too firm, they may be kept in a paper bag
outside the fridge for 2 days.
It is best to keep them at room temperature before consumption, so
that they can attain their full flavor.
They can also be kept in the freezer if they are first cut open and their
pits removed.
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Fruits
Grapes
Almost all the annual amount of 500 tons of grapes handled by
the company comes from the region of Pieria, with a smaller
percentage from Corinth. The main varieties are Crimson
Seedless and Thompson Seedless. The bulk of production
is absorbed by Great Britain and Holland. Protofanousi has
immediate plans to double the amount it sells, with expansion
into other, mainly European markets.
Protofanousi grapes are available as follows:
Packaging
Description
Net Weight
Dimensions
Cases/Pallet 100x120cm
5 kg carton
5 kg
40 x 30 x 13
150
10 x 1 kg
carton
10 kg
40 x 30 x 13
75
10 x 500 g
carton
5 kg
60 x 40 x 9
120
Seasonality
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct Nov Dec
In the table the months of harvest are indicated by the color orange.
Maintenance Tips for consumers: Grapes can be preserved in
the refrigerator for a period of 10 to 15 days on average. Any grapes
showing evidence of spoilage (browning) should be removed immediately because the spoilage may spread. It is recommended that
grapes be placed in a plastic bag to minimize dehydration. Finally, it is
advisable to wash them right before serving, and never before.
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Fruits
Mandarins
The mandarins marketed by Protofanousi come from the
Argolida, Arta, Thesprotia and Laconia, regions blessed with soil
and climatic conditions highly favorable to their cultivation.
The company annually distributes about 2,000 tons of mandarins
of the clementine varieties Nova and Ortanic, primarily destined
formarkets in Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Germany.
Protofanousi mandarins are packed as follows:
Packaging
Description
Net Weight
Dimensions
Cases/Pallet 100x120cm
Carton with
10kg (loose)
10 kg
50 x 30 x 16
88
60 x 40 x 13
75
Girsack carton 20 x 1 kg
20 x 1 kg
Seasonality
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct Nov Dec
In the table the months of harvest are indicated by the color orange.
Preservation Tips for consumers: Mandarins may be kept 2-3
days at room temperature. If they are to be consumed beyond that
time, they should be refrigerated.
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Fruits
Lemons
Almost all of the 2,000 tons of lemons handled annually by the
company are imported from Argentina, South Africa, Spain and
Turkey. Most of this amount is absorbed by the domestic market,
by Bulgaria, and a smaller amount by Serbia.
Proto lemons are packed as follows:
Packaging
Description
Net Weight
Dimensions
Cases/Pallet 100x120cm
Plastic
container 9 kg
9 kg
50 x 30 x 16
100
Carton 15 kg
15 kg
50 x 30 x 16
70
Carton 18 kg
18 kg
50 x 30 x 18
63
Seasonality
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct Nov Dec
In the table the months of harvest are indicated by the color orange.
Preservation Tips for consumers: Lemons can be kept in the
refrigerator for a period of 20 to 25 days, on average, with almost no
loss of quality.
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Network
Exports
Protofanousi exports fruits to European countries, Southeast
Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Canada.
Its roster of customers includes the names of major food chains
such as Tesco, Coop, Aldi and Asda in the UK, the Maxima stores
in the Baltic countries, Wellcome in Hong Kong many of the Tesco
outlets in Central Europe, Coop in Scandinavia, Magnit and Χ5 in
Russia and the Fozzy Group in Ukraine.
Countries
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Greece
Belarus
India
Saudi Arabia
Bulgaria
Indonesia
Serbia
Canada
Ireland
Singapore
China
Italy
South Africa
Cyprus
Jordan
Spain
Egypt
Latvia
Syria
France
Lebanon
The Netherlands
Fyrom
Lithuania
Turkey
Georgia
Moldavia
Ukraine
Germany
Poland
Great Britain
Qatar
United Arab
Emirates
Hong Kong
Romania
Hungary
Russia
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Vietnam
Protofanousi supplies its products to major food
chains in the Greek market and to more than
1,000 retail fruit outlets.
Contact
HEADQUARTERS
Sorting, Packing
& Distribution
57008 Ionia, Thessaloniki
Mailing address:
PO Box 33563
563 10 Eleftherio
Tel.: +30 231 0755227
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.proto.gr
George Kallitsis
Export Director
Manolis Anastasiadis
QA Manager
Babis Panagiotidis
Sales Support
Tel.: +30 2310289195
Mobile: +30 6972822060
Skype: george_kallitsis
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel.: +30 2310 289199
Skype: manolis_proto
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel.: +30 2310 289192
Skype: babis_panagiotidis
E-mail: [email protected]
Giannis Chasiotis
Field Agronomist
Mobile: +306978335894
E-mail: [email protected]
1ST BRANCH
Domestic Sales
Central Vegetable
Market of Thessaloniki
Α3, Α4, Α8
Tel.: +302310763134
E-mail: [email protected]
2ND BRANCH
Refrigerators
& Warehouses
Νea Ephesοs
601 00 Κaterini
Tel.: +30 2351 028858
E-mail: [email protected]
3RD BRANCH
Refrigerators
& Warehouses
58200 Edessa
Tel.: +30 2381 095005
E-mail: [email protected]
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Alexandros Protofanousis
Sales Manager
Tel.: +30 6972859342
E-mail: [email protected]
www.proto.gr