Company
Quality is our way of making business
Quality is our way of making business
A great deal has changed in the fruit sector globally since the Protofanousis family started their fruit trade and handling business back in 1928.
From the little lemon shops in Thessaloniki to the running of one of the biggest export concerns in Greece, the company of the same name that the family set up then has gone from strength to strength with a flexibility that allows it to continue to grow at this impressive pace.
From the little lemon shops in Thessaloniki to the running of one of the biggest export concerns in Greece, the company of the same name that the family set up then has gone from strength to strength with a flexibility that allows it to continue to grow at this impressive pace.
Investments
Investments
The secret lies in our investments and in the use of ever more cutting-edge technology in harvesting, refrigeration, packaging, handling as well as in customer service. Investments have reached €12,000,000 over the last three years, while another €10,000,000 have been earmarked to be spent in the upcoming years on new production units, standardisation and refrigeration.
1
12
M
Investments 12.000.000€
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10
M
Future planned investments
10.000.000€
10.000.000€
Brand name
Brand name
From the very outset, Protofanousis Fruits aimed at creating a strong brand name, breaking the mould of the fixed idea that Greek fruit is transported anonymously to foreign markets. The PROTO brand is now a byword for premium quality, with no corner-cutting.
And with the brand came the expertise. Today, the company's reputation for its kiwi fruit and cherries has spread far and wide, including among its customers such giants in handling and supermarket chains as Costco, Jeronimo, Lidl, Tesco and Wellcome, which operate in Europe, South-East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, the USA and Canada.
And with the brand came the expertise. Today, the company's reputation for its kiwi fruit and cherries has spread far and wide, including among its customers such giants in handling and supermarket chains as Costco, Jeronimo, Lidl, Tesco and Wellcome, which operate in Europe, South-East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, the USA and Canada.
Fruit handlilng in tons
Production
Production
More than 30 million kilos of fruit are refrigerated, packaged and transported by PROTO annually. We have our own facilities stretching out over a total area of 25,000m2. They include a modern packing plant in Kalochori, refrigeration facilities in Pella and Pieria, as well as a store in Thessaloniki’s Central Fruit and Vegetable Market.
Since 2007, PROTO has been expanding its activities in another fruit, which is now its third most important export product: table grapes.
Since 2007, PROTO has been expanding its activities in another fruit, which is now its third most important export product: table grapes.
360° Quality System
360° Quality System
As a contemporary enterprise that is profoundly conscious of the importance of quality, Protofanousis applies a 360-degree quality system covering all production stages from the field to the consumer.
Furthermore, quality assurance becomes more complex, the larger the quantity being handled by a fruit company gets, and as such, requires continuous vigilance.
Methods for quality assurance today require a system of multiple controls at all stages of the packing process.
Furthermore, quality assurance becomes more complex, the larger the quantity being handled by a fruit company gets, and as such, requires continuous vigilance.
Methods for quality assurance today require a system of multiple controls at all stages of the packing process.
360° Quality System
In the field
In the field
At Protofanousis, checks begin in the fields, where even before the fruit itself appears, conditions are recorded for the soil, climate, plant growth and the presence of pests or diseases so that forecasts can be made even before bud break and the appearance of the fruit itself.
Checks continue at all stages of growth, the harvesting process is recorded and evaluated, and final measurements are taken so that the initial evaluation can be arrived at. Data are collected, processed and filed through computer information systems, which allow all this volume of data to be converted into a clear picture of the given situation.
Checks continue at all stages of growth, the harvesting process is recorded and evaluated, and final measurements are taken so that the initial evaluation can be arrived at. Data are collected, processed and filed through computer information systems, which allow all this volume of data to be converted into a clear picture of the given situation.
360° Quality System
In packing
In packing
The packing process presents its own challenges. Getting the desired result depends on technology here also. High-resolution cameras, powerful computers and the necessary operational systems provide the company with the capacity to standardise the goods produced, thus ensuring that the qualitative criteria are maintained.
By exploiting such parameters as size, colour, shape and even the condition of fruit pulp using non-invasive methods, the automatic sorters locate and remove fruit that fail to meet the standards.
By exploiting such parameters as size, colour, shape and even the condition of fruit pulp using non-invasive methods, the automatic sorters locate and remove fruit that fail to meet the standards.
360° Quality System
In the fruit
In the fruit
Soon it will be possible to use advanced technology to measure all the ingredients of the fruit with absolute safety, providing information which can assess even the fruit’s flavour.
Apart from all the information gathered, recorded and evaluated, whether it has to do with the condition of the land plots, the fruit or the facility’s smooth operation, the modern trend in Quality Assurance Systems is the questioning of the Quality System itself.
Apart from all the information gathered, recorded and evaluated, whether it has to do with the condition of the land plots, the fruit or the facility’s smooth operation, the modern trend in Quality Assurance Systems is the questioning of the Quality System itself.
360° Quality System
Ongoing improvements in procedures
Ongoing improvements in procedures
This questioning arises from the need for improvement and development, an attitude encapsulating the philosophy of Protofanousis. Despite the fact that the company implements many Quality Systems in all its operations, such as BRC, IFS, ISO22000, GlobalGap, Grasp, Sedex, Smeta and others, which are renewed annually in their most recent versions, the company is continuously seeking room for improvement and evaluates the systems which it applies, whether they relate to Certifications or internal procedures.
The company management and executives are seeking methods for improvement not just to add new safety mechanisms or further checks, but to readjust and redistribute funds depending on current needs. The linking up of available information with practical experience is a dynamic process which changes in real time and impacts on decision-making, whether that be on a daily level or on the level of strategic planning.
The company management and executives are seeking methods for improvement not just to add new safety mechanisms or further checks, but to readjust and redistribute funds depending on current needs. The linking up of available information with practical experience is a dynamic process which changes in real time and impacts on decision-making, whether that be on a daily level or on the level of strategic planning.
Commitment
Protofanousis assures all involved parties, suppliers, farmers and customers that it is committed to making Quantity, Quality and Duration the basic axes that determine its Strategy, while it strongly believes that ensuring all the above is the only way to achieving its future growth.
Financial Data
Protofanousis Fruits S.A. closed 2019 with a turnover of EUR 31.8 million, almost 25% up on 2018. The total quantity transported came to 27.5 million kilos.
The company's balance sheets for the last 10 years can be seen here for anyone who may be interested.
Certificates
To download any of the company's certifications, click on one of the icons below.
