At the foothills of Mount Vermio, in the semi-mountainous village of Trilofos, Imathia, Sarkatzi Farm was “born” five years ago. It was in 2019 when Theodoros Sarkatzis, a graduate of the Department of Public Relations and Communication, decided to return to the land and replant his family’s 40-year-old estates with nut trees.
Together with his wife, Anastasia Tsili, they chose to focus on the production, processing, and marketing of almonds and hazelnuts, emphasizing product quality while also paving the way for new farmers in the primary and agri-food sectors. The range of products produced on the farm is constantly expanding and now includes spreads, cereal bars, powders, pralines, spoon sweets, and more.
Starting from cultivation all the way to product packaging, the family-run cottage industry has shown consistent growth. It currently offers 20 product codes, with sales increasing by 60% compared to last year—a development that prompted the next step in their expansion. With the goal of increasing both production and their customer base, Sarkatzi Farm, which spans approximately 3,000 square meters, is investing in a new, modern processing facility on a privately owned 120-square-meter property in Trilofos. The new unit is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. For this investment, the cottage industry has submitted a funding application through the NSRF program for processing and is now awaiting final results.
Speaking to Liberal.gr, Ms. Anastasia Tsili said the new facility will house the workshop, storage areas, and offices of the cottage industry. “Our facility is being upgraded and will be fully vertically integrated once the new unit is operational. The aim is to grow our customer base (both wholesale and retail) and increase our production. Consumer demand is already growing, with our products gaining traction among consumers,” Ms. Tsili stated.
Emphasis on Quality
Discussing the products, she noted that the idea of processing and producing healthy food came about when she was searching for highly nutritious foods for her child—and that’s when she discovered nut butters. “Our farm’s nut production kept increasing. At the time, my husband Theodoros Sarkatzis, who leads cultivation and harvesting, and I were debating whether to sell the raw product to traders or begin processing it ourselves. My interest in healthy foods like nut butters for my child led us to the idea of producing spreads based on the nuts we already grew,” Ms. Tsili explained to Liberal.gr. They started with six flavors and now offer 20 product codes, including raw nuts.
The nuts cultivated at Sarkatzi Farm are mainly almonds and hazelnuts, with walnuts also being developed. The nuts are used to produce spreads with up to three ingredients, cereal bars, almond powder, pralines, spoon sweets, and almond oil. “What sets our products apart from the competition is that they contain no additives such as preservatives, sugar, salt, or added oils. Ingredient combinations are made using honey, which we source from small local producers. They contain 100% natural ingredients and have a one-year shelf life,” Ms. Tsili emphasized, noting that the cottage industry invests in high-quality, pure raw materials—a key differentiator in the sector. She added that four of their 11 spread codes have received awards for best taste in competitions.
Expansion into More Retail Outlets
The cottage industry’s products are currently available on store shelves in Veria, Naousa, and Thessaloniki, with the majority of sales coming from their online store (e-shop). Given the steady rise in sales and the upcoming completion of the new processing unit, Sarkatzi Farm aims—through its participation in food exhibitions—to expand into more retail points in the domestic market and, in the long term, to enter international markets.
Finally, referring to the cottage industry’s collaboration with the organization New Agriculture New Generation, Ms. Tsili described it as a “godsend” for Sarkatzi Farm, offering knowledge and solutions across various agri-food sectors and in the production process. “We cultivate our land with love and respect for the environment, always following the guidance of our expert agronomists,” Ms. Tsili concluded.
Source: liberal.gr
