Greek pastry producer Ioniki has received several awards at major trade fairs in Europe and The Middle East, for their range of innovative frozen pastry products. In this interview, we discuss the latest market trends and how they fit into the company’s approach.
Interview with Nikos Tsiftsoglou, export manager.
Please describe what the company’s FILOsophy is and how your vision leads to unique products.
Ioniki is a company that possesses extensive know-how in the production of frozen filo pastry and dough products. We love what we do and we try to get better every day. A global mindset is incorporated in every aspect of our business operations. The whole organization is flexible and continually craves to understand the European/Global consumer; blending tradition with contemporary trends. A part of this FILOsophy is recognized through the awards received at major trade fairs, such as SIAL and Gulfood. People of the food industry are always searching for something new, healthier, more convenient, tasty and with competitive pricing. Our product proposition can provide a solution under these characteristics and that is the reason major players that started as leads, trust Ioniki as a credible vendor.
What are your research and development projects and innovations released on the market?
We are among the first companies in the industry that uses natural frozen products, from the raw materials used as ingredients till their packaging. For example, the processing of vegetables used in our fillings is done in such a way to ensure the highest freshness, natural aromas and colors, having always as a top priority to deliver a safe, tasty product to our customers and consumers. What is more, the binding of traditional Mediterranean/Greek plates like Moussaka inside filo pastry, is another approach to innovation.
Please refer to the Greek Wild Greens Pie with regards to target markets
The Greek Wild Greens Pie is a good example of a product that incorporates the philosophy, know-how and expertise of Ioniki. The pie concept is well accepted by the majority of the European markets. Especially in Central/Western Europe (e.g. Germany, UK), the specific pie can serve either as a healthy snack or as a healthy family meal, depending on the portion size and channel of distribution (Ho.Re.Ca or Retail). Another advantage is that the wild greens pie is very easy to bake. The vegetables that we use like spinach, vlita (amaranth greens), chicory, endive etc. are all prepared under integrated crop management farming, are of high nutritional value and last but not least are combined exceptionally with Feta Cheese.
What are the benefits of using extra virgin olive oil?
The advantages of using Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) are undisputable if applied properly. Specifically in our products the usage of EVOO is contributing in the aftertaste, the texture and the high nutritional value of each product. In other words the EVOO is acting as an exceptional catalyst for the taste, while at the same time balances the product crunchiness. All the ingredients used in our products, from tomatoes, to peppers and various cheese types are of the highest quality, in order the consumer to be able to taste each and single ingredient in every bite, after the product has been fully baked.
Consumers increasingly demand natural and preservative-free frozen products. How do you adapt to this change in consumer behavior?
Every company that wants to have a long term presence in the international market has to adapt or ideally to anticipate change in trends and consumer behavior. Ioniki has diagnosed the tendency you mentioned and has already applied the policy for a natural preservative-free product. Therefore apart from not using added preservatives, we do not use artificial colors; what is more all our products are Trans-Fat and GMO free. Finally, following this strategic direction, our aim is to source ingredients and all packaging material we use from suppliers that use eco-friendly procedures. Especially for our packaging, we pursue this green movement, actively seeking sustainable packaging solutions. The Trans-Fat story undoubtedly has been on the rise the last few years. Whatever the trans-fat daily limit set from authorities in Europe or in the US, in Ioniki we are sure when printing a claim of Trans-Fat to our Filosophy range of products. Eating trans-fat definitely raises the level of our LDL (bad) cholesterol in our blood, while consuming healthy fats such as Extra Virgin Olive Oil is working on the positive direction. Our products, as already stated, are trans-fat free and on top include EVOO.
IONIKI SFOLIATA S.A. Frozen Pastry Products
Headquarters: 1st Km Neochorouda – Oreokastro Rd, Thessaloniki 54500 Greece
+30 2310 788 120 | f. + 30 2310 778 225 | e. info@ioniki.com
www.ioniki.com | www.ionikifilosophy.com
