El Sabor: The king of Greek nachos exporting to over 40 countries

Upon hearing the name "El Sabor," most might have an image of the products it produces, as the company's nachos are quite a popular product with a strong export presence. What most people perhaps don’t know is that El Sabor is a Greek company created in the early 1990s by the entrepreneur Konstantinos Mamis, during a time when few in Greece knew what the word "nachos" meant.

Today, the company has managed to export to over 40 countries worldwide, maintaining a leading presence not only in Greece but also across South-Eastern Europe. The business manages to grow year by year, being the first to establish a production unit for nachos in Greece in 1992. 2022 marked further growth for the company, with its turnover increasing by 13.61%, commendably reaching 26.2 million euros from the 23 million euros it was at during 2021.

Last year, El Sabor was profitable, with its net profits after taxes reaching 1.2 million euros, however decreased by 35.2% compared to 2021 when it was 1.9 million euros. Factors such as high energy costs and the broader environment, also affected by geopolitical developments in Ukraine recently, pressured its own results, which is why its profitability was significantly reduced although it remained strong. Currently, it’s estimated that a percentage exceeding 50% of its total sales comes from exports. An important market where it is active is Bulgaria, while among its export destinations are Qatar, Italy, and Hungary.

In the domestic market, most of its sales are made through large supermarket chains, while the company also maintains a strong presence in the catering sector with large dining and entertainment companies.

The new factory in Oinofyta

In 2022, the company made another significant move. Its new factory in the Oinofyta area was completed and began operations, with the total cost reaching 4.9 million euros. This investment was bolstered by the development law through tax exemption up to the amount of 2.2 million euros. The new factory has boosted its production dynamics of nachos and contributed to the evolution and development of the company, given that the previous production factory could not meet the high demand and the continuous growth of El Sabor in recent years. The new factory essentially quadruples the company's production capacity and opens the door for launching new products in the market.

El Sabor is a distinctive business example of Greek interests where its founder, Mr. Mamis, started with minimal capital and today has managed to create a highly robust entity with domestic and international footprint with the products it produces. The produced products are not only the popular nachos but also Mexican sauces and tortillas in significant quantities.

The beginning and historical evolution of the company

El Sabor was the business inspired when, in the early '90s, Mr. Mamis was doing his postgraduate studies in Los Angeles. The City of Angels, however, did not seem only attractive to him. It was a period during which Latin American cuisine was flourishing in the United States. The nachos were indeed a recipe that Americans rushed to improve and perfect.

Initially, the entrepreneur tried Mexican cuisine at a restaurant behind the Hilton named La Tequila Loca to test how much this particular culture could have potential in the future, initially on a smaller scale. The first production was established a little later in a small unit in Metamorfosi, and all the rest is history.

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