The story of two civil and mechanical engineers who turned to beekeeping and created the first product of its kind in the world. What one of the co-founders of this innovative company shares with us.
Mother Nature generously offers her gifts and simultaneously presents business opportunities for those who can make the most of them. Eleni Plachoura and Vasilis Ritas are two engineers who didn’t hesitate to take up a new professional venture when they decided to engage in beekeeping by founding the company NOMAD Honey.
Through it, they produce and market organic honey and other bee products that come from their beehives located in the Vikos Gorge.
NOMAD Honey has even created and patented the world’s first organic honey energy gel made only with natural ingredients, approved by the Hellenic Industrial Property Organization (OBI). Their products are exported to Germany and the U.S.
“We met as engineers. We were working as a civil engineer and a mechanical engineer. We had no connection to beekeeping. It came into our lives by chance in 2014. But we decided that we wanted to get serious and professional about it. In 2015, we attended the School of Beekeeping and Sericulture at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where we gained valuable knowledge and tools to practice organic beekeeping with proper methods. We developed our bee colonies and since then, we’ve maintained mountainous apiaries in the Vikos–Aoos Geopark and other mountain areas. Our brand name, NOMAD Honey, was inspired by the nature of our work — nomadic beekeeping,” says Eleni Plachoura (Civil Engineer – Beekeeper), co-founder of the innovative company, in her interview with newmoney, explaining their personal story and how this career switch came to be.
“In 2018, we built a state-of-the-art organic honey packaging facility in Katsikas, Ioannina, in our own 700m² premises. That same year, we created the world’s first natural, organic honey-based energy gel — gentle on the stomach and intestines of athletes — called Bear Strength NOMAD Natural Boost Honey Gel. We built its production line at our facility and patented our idea through the Hellenic Industrial Property Organization. We’ve even conducted a clinical study on its effects. The entire investment was self-funded, driven by passion, vision, and dedication — to such an extent that we were blinded to the challenges of launching a new business.”
6 energy gels
The Greek beekeeper then elaborates on the company’s development, its operations today, its sales, exports, and product range:
“Since then, we’ve been producing and selling top-quality organic mountain honey varieties. All the honey we produce has been awarded for its quality and taste at international food competitions over the past six years. We have also developed and sell a line of six energy gels, each with a different composition and effect, designed for sports, outdoor activities, or for anyone needing an energy boost during the day. Our products are available at our physical store at our facility in Ioannina, through our online store www.nomad-honey.gr, in delicatessen and sports stores in Greece, and are currently exported to the U.S. and Germany.
Our company produces, processes, packages, conducts research with external partners, innovates, and distributes its products worldwide.”
Regarding NOMAD Honey’s new projects and future business steps, Eleni Plachoura tells newmoney:
“Our most recent news is that we’ve set up a production line for raw, organic energy and protein bars, which will be launched in the market in a few days. Our overall focus is on real, energy-packed food. We have many ideas for the future, but we take it one step at a time.”
In closing, Ms. Plachoura describes the company’s collaboration with the “New Agriculture New Generation” organization:
“Our collaboration with the ‘New Agriculture New Generation’ organization happened during the COVID-19 period. At a time of general isolation, the Zoom seminars with all the organization’s partners were a window of connection to the outside world. The entire educational component was very interesting, as it helped us frame our business through an entrepreneurial lens, even though we were already on the market having taken our own path, unaware of many business rules. In 2021, we won first prize in the organization’s accelerator program for our business plan, among all participating companies. It’s worth noting that our relationship and communication with New Agriculture New Generation continues to this day, and there is mutual appreciation.”
Source: newmoney.gr
