Demand is increasing for better-quality food products made by small-scale producers and not requiring transportation over thousands of kilometres before reaching dinner tables.

23

Small-scale Greek producers, steering clear of mass production and standardisation, are responding to this growing trend with a wide range of goods, offering superior taste and quality.

We took a look around Athens to recommend a number of grocery stores stocked with top-quality products.

Ellinika Kaloudia

This grocery store, situated behind the Acropolis Museum, may be small but it stocks many gems produced on Greek land. The store’s shelves, occupying the entire space, carry local products of the highest quality, all carefully selected by this venture’s proprietors. Don’t skip the aged graviera cheeses from Crete and Naxos, the charcuterie from Karditsa, or the wide range of pastas from all over Greece.

Info: 8 Hatzihristou, Acropolis, tel. +30 210 9224060

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Select products from all over Greece/Photo: Ellinika Kaloudia
Photo: Ellinika Kaloudia

Paradosiako Bakaliko

Proprietor Giannis Vogiatzidakis has managed to fit an extensive range of the country’s finest products into his two grocery stores, in Athens’ Pagrati and Ilioupoli districts. His shops stock a wide range of Cretan graviera cheeses, meat and poultry, countless pickles, cured products and a wealth of delicatessen products. The Ilioupoli address also features a separate fruit and vegetable store selling organic and conventional produce.

Info: 6-8 28th Oktovriou square, Ilioupoli, tel. +30 210 9954500 & 31 Proklou, Pagrati, tel. +30 210 7560055

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Katalahou stocks goods produced by very small producers/Photo: Katalahou
Goods sold at Katalahou are selected after meeting quality, taste and production-method criteria// Photo: Katalahou

Katalahou

Katalahou may have taken its business name from a term meaning “by coincidence”, but the products sold at this grocery cooperative are anything but randomly chosen. Fruit, vegetables, pasta, sauces, beverages and other products are all selected after meeting quality, taste, production-method, environmental and fair-trade criteria. The store stocks goods produced by very small producers detached from wholesale market networks. These producers offer goods that taste fantastic.    

Info: 9 Mavromichali, Exarcheia, tel. +30 210 3613851

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Photo: Tsakanikas
Tsakanikas in Kallithea sells delicious soft feta from Argos and a large range of yoghurts from all over Greece/Photo: Tsakanikas

Tsakanikas

From as far back as 1920, Kallithea locals have known Tsakanikas as the place to go to for good, fresh yoghurt. This reputation remains valid 102 years on. The business has nowadays added a second address, in the neighbouring Nea Smyrni district. Both stores are stocked with fine traditional products on shelves and in their refrigerators. Selections include delicious soft feta from Argos, a large range of yoghurts from all over Greece, chickpeas from the American Farm School in Thessaloniki, as well as halva from Volos, amongst countless other goods. A map featured on the shop’s website provides information on the origins of all products sold.

Info: 67 Harokopou, Kallithea, tel. +30 210 9591050 & 9 Proskopon Aidiniou, Nea Smyrni, tel. +30 210 9374722

Peri Lesvou

Peri Lesvou’s two Athens grocery stores, in the city and in Nea Smyrni, bring to the capital the rich produce of the island Lesvos. Dried myzithra cheese, renowned ladotyri cheese, exceptional virgin olive oil, pastas as well as herbs are among the items available at these two stores. The shops also stock marvellous products from Limnos such as flomaria pasta and kalathaki cheese.

Info: 27 Athinas & Protogenous, Monastiraki, tel. +30 210 3233227 & 2 Proskopon Aidiniou, Nea Smyrni, tel. +30 213 0102471 +Two deli supermarkets

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Photo: Balaskas
Balaskas, a deli supermarket, offers a wide range of cheeses, charcuterie, fruit and vegetables/Photo: Balaskas

Balaskas

Balaskas, a deli supermarket, offers an incredible range of products, including surprises such as Japanese panko, or breadcrumbs, aged cheddar and leading English marmalades. Here, shoppers may find uncommon Italian pastas alongside more usual pastas, as well as special sauces, while one corridor is entirely devoted to international cuisine. A wide gamut of cheese, charcuterie and fruit and vegetables is also offered.   

Info: 39 Afroditis, Palaio Faliro, tel. +30 210 9830268 & 56 A. Panagouli, Glyfada. Tel. +30 210 8983348

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The Thanopoulos family venture has become synonymous with quality products/ Photo: Thanopoulos
Thanopoulos offers the finest products hailing from all over Greece/ Photo: Thanopoulos

Thanopoulos

The Thanopoulos family venture, now managed by the fourth generation, is further pursuing its deli supermarket quest. Synonymous with quality products, the business dates back to 1877. It started off as one small grocery store and has grown into a venture offering three Thanopoulos stores in the northern suburbs. They sell pastas, marmalades and sweet preserves made by numerous cooperatives around Greece, charcuterie from Karpenisi, long-fermentation bread, as well as a big choice in cheese and dairy products.

Info: 38 Elaion, Nea Kifisia, tel. +30 210 6201878; Adrianou & 6 Dragoumi, Kifisia train station, tel. +30 210 6233267; 164 Harilaou Trikoupi, Nea Erythraia, tel. +30 210 6254504

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