Ioniki

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Greek Filosophy

Filo specialist Ioniki has over 30 years’ experience creating frozen pastry and puff pastry products, with a focus on Greek and Mediterranean flavours. Export Sales Area Manager Nikos Filippas discussed Ioniki’s product range and expansion plans in conversation with Phil Nicholls.

INresponse to market trends, Ioniki has expanded its range of vegan products. This new Filosophy Plant-Based line was created for consumers who want to enjoy delicious food as part of a diet consisting of vegan ingredients.

“We have an exclusive partnership with Beyond Meat for frozen-based products,” explained Export Sales Area Manager Nikos Filippas. “Ioniki’s first product in this line was the Greek Pie made with filo pastry, and the launch went very well in all our markets.”

Ioniki began in 1991 in Thessaloniki in northern Greece. The com pany focused on Greek bakery products and specialised in creative uses for filo pastry. Ioniki was founded by George Portokalidis, who remains CEO of the company. It is Mr Portokalidis’ knowledge and enthusiasm for filo pastry products that has always driven product development and quality control within Ioniki.

While remaining in Thessaloniki, Ioniki moved premises in 1998 and again in 2008. The current factory spans 25,000 sqm and the company employs 250 people. Ioniki also operates two additional

distribution centres; one in Athens and the second on the island of Crete. Today, Ioniki exports to more than 35 countries around the world, enjoying a 15% increase in turnover compared to last year.

As sweet as pie

Ioniki offers over 400 dough and puff pastry products for both the retail and the Horeca sectors. The retail line is branded Filosophy and highlights Ioniki’s trademark filo pastry used in a range of pies. The Filosophy range includes traditional Greek pies, both savoury and sweet, along with spiral and mini pies.

The Horeca range consists of the bulk of Ioniki’s lines, divided across 12 product categories. Many of these lines mirror the Filosophy products, with the addition of bread sticks, stuffed bagels, pastry sheets and a selection of donuts and cakes. Ioniki sells these items into hotels, canteens, catering firms, airline caterers and many more.

Innovation is a key trait at Ioniki as shown by its collaboration with Beyond Meat to launch the range of plant-based pies combined

with filo pastry. Beyond Meat Inc is an American company founded in 2009 that produces plant-based meat substitutes for retail and catering outlets.

Ioniki has rapidly developed a range of Beyond Meat items. “Our newest product is the Beyond Meat Spirals, which is an appetiser,” Mr Filippas said. “After starting with the family pie, Ioniki produced an appetiser to please another customer category. At the same time, we developed the Beyond Meat lahmacun, also called a Turkish pizza. We created this product to break into the ethnic market.”

With such a broad range of products in the Ioniki range, it is dif ficult to pick a favourite item. However, Mr Filippas highlighted the recent success of the Beyond Meat Greek Pie which brought the Ioniki brand to the attention of vegan and vegetarian customers around the world.

As well as expanding the Beyond Meat range, Ioniki continues to develop new lines with a strong focus on Mediterranean foods. Recent additions include the Halloumi Spirals in filo pastry and the Greek Yoghurt Spiral Pie, also made with filo pastry.

Slicing Ioniki’s pie

Mr Filippas was clear about the features of Ioniki which differentiate it from the competition: “Of course, our cooperation with Beyond Meat is something that sets us apart from other pastry producers.

“Also, besides the commercial products, Ioniki makes hand made products. We will customise our products for big retailers, as well. We are very flexible and accommodate anything that a customer needs.”

To produce this range of foods, Ioniki relies upon its long-term relationships with suppliers. The quality of the Ioniki portfolio

CEO George Portokalidis

depends on the quality of the raw materials used as ingredients. By relying upon a network of established suppliers, Ioniki is con fident in both a dependable supply chain and sourcing ingredients of the required quality to ensure its products meet the high stan dards demanded by customers.

Modern clients also expect companies to manage their envi ronmental impact. “We have solar panels for our electricity,” explained Mr Filippas. “We have an ongoing programme to upgrade our delivery fleet. So, the new trucks are hybrid and hopefully they will be electric very soon. Also, our packaging is eco-friendly and certified sustainable.”

Ioniki is also registered with EcoVadis, who specialise in sustainability assessments for businesses. This partnership will enable Ioniki to further advance its sustainability strategy. Due to the global energy markets, the drive for sustainability has financial implications for everyone. The cost increases due to the rise in energy prices have impacted Ioniki.

Easy as pie

However, Mr Filippas remained optimistic about Ioniki’s resilience to these global challenges: “Through these difficult times, we didn’t have any supply issues because of the good rela tionships with our suppliers; we always had the necessary stock available to our company. Right now, sales have not been affected. Unfortunately, I believe there may be price increases in the winter, but our clients seem to acknowledge our issues, both the big super markets and their customers.”

This optimism for the future of Ioniki is wrapped up in the company’s expansion plans. Core to this is the proposed addi tional expansion of the Thessaloniki operation with a relocation to a 40,000 sqm factory. This proposed move for 2025 will allow Ioniki to further expand its portfolio with more dedicated produc tion lines in the larger factory. Naturally, the new facility will also allow for increased production across the board.

“Our targets for the next few years are the retail markets in the UK and USA,” Mr Filippas said. “We are already in the London market, in Costco stores, plus many independent and ethnic stores. However, Ioniki wants to reach the whole country through a big retail chain.”

Ioniki’s mission is to create inspiring solutions and delicious flavours, a task enhanced by its collaboration with Beyond Meat on the growing range of vegan products. This mission is supported by a ‘Filosophy’ that appreciates and values all members of the Ioniki team. This corporate mindset is appreciated by Mr Filippas.

“I’m a salesperson,” he concluded, “so I’m available for sales 24 hours a day. This is not an eight-hour job, I must be available any time, anywhere. This job is something I enjoy, and it drives my work here every day.” n