DEAS

High-quality olives GLOBAL SCALE on a

Deas SA is a family-owned company based in Greece, dedicated to premiumquality olives and a customer-oriented approach. Having placed these two strategic principles at the core of everything it does, the company has established itself as a leader in the Greek olive industry. Christos Deas, Export Manager, explained more to Hannah Barnett.

Wi th a turnover of €63.5m, and an impressive 24,000 tonnes of olives produced per year, Deas is a force to be reckoned with in the Greek olive industry. The company exports to countries from Japan to the USA, from Norway to Australia and everywhere in between, numbering more than 80 in total. The olives are sold in all forms: dated, pitted, stuffed, marinated, sliced and more.

According to Export Manager Christos Deas, it is the dedication to innovation and the willingness to take a risk that truly sets Deas apart. “The extent of our experience, depth of quality, and passion

for the product has established us firmly in the marketplace,” he said. “But what makes us stand out from our competitors is our creativity: we are always searching for new recipes to present our customers a unique product.”

Extensive facilities

Deas is based in the Kalives region in Halkidiki, Greece, an area known for its olives. It boasts well-equipped facilities, including a main office building and two factories covering an area of 40,000 square metres, staffed by a 400-strong work force.

“We are the leaders in the Greek olive industry,” said Mr Deas. “The business prides itself on expertise and a fanatical attention to detail, which we bring to an unrivalled customer base. And we invest in employee training because it increases staff motivation, improves productivity and the quality of work.”

Along with employees, the company has also invested in a new pasteurisation factory, based in the industrial area of Sindos, in Thessaloniki, Greece. The factory uses the latest automotive technology, with two innovative robots which are employed at various stages of the production process.

“One is at the beginning of the production line, where the product is removed from

pallets. That is now done automatically, without any human intervention,” Mr Deas explained. “And at the end, the product is put into new pallets by automation before it is loaded onto the trucks. Of course, the machines are all compliant with international standards and regulations.”

Quality products

The most popular product in Deas’ roster is its stuffed olives. “What makes them special is that they are hand-stuffed with the utmost care, following all hygiene protocols,” explained Mr Deas. “As an innovative olive processing and manufacturing business, we buy all our raw materials from approved suppliers. We

handle all our products with care, to retain and enhance their exquisite flavour. The olives are hand -harvested, which is the best method to ensure their final quality.”

Deas maintains an ethos that specifically focuses on the excellence of its goods, guaranteed by regular controls of the company’s ultra-modern facilities and innovative processing, storing and packaging methods. This is all done in compliance with the international standards and regulations.

The company upholds a commitment to never compromise the safety and compliance of any products or services. “We focus on customer satisfaction, while keeping up with technology, operating

and installing the newest machines to keep ahead of competition and, of course, maintaining quality,” Mr Deas said.

Loyal relationships

Mr Deas was unequivocal that communication is key in any relationship, including a business one. With that in mind, the company is committed to building and maintaining a strong and reliable network of partners and suppliers.

The Export Manager revealed some of the ways the company maintains these international relationships; namely by opening up as many channels of communication as possible. “We try to get to know our suppliers better with face-to-

face meetings,” he said. “Email and phone are good, but can be impersonal. It’s very important to travel to other countries to meet suppliers and partners because you learn about their culture, and you can better understand how to communicate with them.

“We try to set clear expectations for our business relationships. We don’t only talk to our suppliers when we need something, or a problem has arisen. We let them know what our plans are, what changes might be happening in the company or product line and what new strategies we may be adopting too. I think consistency is the key to customer satisfaction. Our company has built trust with our customers. This has to be maintained by keeping to contracts and being on time concerning the production and delivery schedule.”

A bright future

With rapidly rising costs and a global pandemic, there is little doubt that the last few years have been turbulent

across all industries. Mr Deas explained that the company keeps its strong position by constantly monitoring events in the global market and implementing certain strategic solutions. “By using and redefining a SWOT analysis at regular intervals, we try to remain competitive but also accessible to customers and the consumers of our product. ”

“The idea is to sell more to our target consumers, thus increasing overall market share,” Mr Deas continued. “Financial goals are some of the most useful goals we can have. I am ambitious by nature, which makes it equally important to have goals based on financial knowledge for business expansion. Of course, we will also continue to offer the best customer service, which means that consumers are

happier with the overall experience of buying our product.”

Working for Deas has provided the self-described ambitious Export Manager the opportunity to contribute to an everexpanding company in a substantial, meaningful, way.

“I get excited collaborating and working towards something big,” he reflected. “At the end of every day, I’m satisfied knowing that I have done my best to improve something. I feel happy when I work alongside my colleagues to solve problems and challenges. Teamwork fascinates me. You have to work with your team, not above them. Great leaders must recognise their employees and express their gratitude whenever possible.”