Olive Oil with Passion
Interview with Andreas Knauß, Managing Director of LAKUDIA GmbH
What began with a vacation in Greece developed into an extraordinary entrepreneurial story: LAKUDIA GmbH combines Swabian entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for the highest quality olive oil, which has long been found in gourmet food trade. Managing Director Andreas Knauß explains what forms the basis for 25 years of company success - and why the oil of the 'Maiden of Athens' is a real gem.
Andreas Knauß, founder and CEO of LAKUDIA GmbH, originally worked worldwide as a mechanical engineer. A spontaneous real estate purchase in Greece and the enthusiastic reaction of family members and acquaintances to the first self-produced olive oil led him to establish LAKUDIA GmbH, which has evolved from a small trading company to a company with an international reputation. The courage to establish his own production company, LAKUDIA HELLAS E.P.E., amidst the Greek economic crisis, paid off. LAKUDIA HELLAS E.P.E. is based in Athens, with production located in Monemvasia/Laconia on the Peloponnese. The distribution of products – including olive oil and olives – is managed from Germany.
From the Tree to the Table
In both production and distribution, LAKUDIA adheres to three principles: uncompromising quality, continuous transparency, and absolute adherence to delivery schedules. "Our olive oil comes directly from our production to the table - without intermediaries, without detours," says the managing director. The company produces under strict control and with its own bottling plants in Greece. Its customers include private clients, well-known gastronomy wholesalers, and elite French bottlers. LAKUDIA is particularly strong in the private label sector: "We produce both for the lawyer who wants to give away 300 bottles under his own label to his clients at Christmas, as well as large quantities for major customers. We can manage both and thus stand out from the market," emphasizes Andreas Knauß.
The 'Maid of Athens'
LAKUDIA GmbH employs a small, effective team in Germany and seasonal forces in Greece today. "We have managed to survive in the market for over 25 years - that is rare in our industry," the managing director stresses. Alongside quality and reliability, the success is also driven by an extraordinary product: the oil of the 'Athenian' or 'Maid of Athens', a very old, demanding variety with a very special taste. "My farmers, from whom I have learned a lot, always say 'The Athinio olive causes many problems, but I cannot live without it,'" says Andreas Knauß with a wink, adding: "Our customers are loyal to us - that is the greatest recognition of our work."