Production Supply Chain
How Is the Supplier Network in Greece?
There are several coops in the industry besides the ones listed below.
The Greek grape farming industry is relatively lagging in technology integration, and these small farmers are not capable of having their packaging facility.
For this reason, cooperatives play an important role because they are equipped with packaging facilities, machines, and professionals.
There is an increasing trend of investors investing in cooperatives rather than individual farmers.
What are the Top 10 Suppliers/Exporters?
Creta: Giannakakis and Labros Pervolarakis (Both traders with contracted farmers)
Peloponnese: Balakanakis/Pegasus/Giannakakis Farmers and packers
Chalkidiki/Naousa: Protofanousis, Balakanakis (Farmers and packers)
Kavala: Katsagiotis
How Is the Value Chain Formed in Greece?
Coops and exporting firms have authority over 1000 ha of the farm. These coops/exporting firms have packaging facilities that allow them to export. However, Coops may sell to export firms after packaging if unfamiliar with the export market. Exporters usually have contracts with prominent EU (Germany, France) and UK retailers.
Seasonality of Main Producing Regions
What Are the Major Producing Regions of Greek Grapes?
Greek table grapes vineyards are situated in:
Creta: Most southern part of Greece – same geographical position as Almeria – closest European coast to Egypt. The production of Creta is the earliest available from June to August, in direct competition with Egyptian and Indian Grapes, and mainly targets covering early domestic demand from touristic zones of Creta/Rhodes and Athens. The export of Cretan grapes outside Europe is insignificant. In July 2022, most grapes are sold locally due to high transport costs and luxury prices paid by local demand.
The main varieties are seeded Victoria, Thompson seedless, and Crimson seedless. In the last decade, vineyards of Sugar crisp, sugraone, and Crimson were planted. The main selling point of the Cretan table grapes vineyard is for early market entrance and seedless grapes.
Peloponnese: Southern Greece – same geographical position as Sicily. The table grapes of the Peloponnese cover the demand of Athens, the most populated city in Greece, and the surplus is exported to Germany, Austria, and Poland.
The main varieties are Thompson seedless, Crimson seedless, and the Red globe. New table varieties planted are Attica, an early seedless Black variety that is up-and-coming but very slow to expand, and Sugraone.
Khalkidhiki/Kavala: Greece's most northern grape production region and the most valuable for exports. It targets the late part of the European grape season and covers part of the gap in the supply left by Italian and Egyptian production. The production area supplies traditionally due to proximity to the Central and East European markets.
Varieties: Victoria is the earliest and most impressive grape, seeded, and has an outstanding appeal in East Europe. Black magic is the earliest black seeded. Thompson seedless is available at the end of August, and Crimson Seedless, Italia, and red globe dominate the supply from September to November.
Source: Theodoros Damvakaris Tridge OM
Trade Overview
Which countries are main importers of Greek grapes?
Top importers include Germany, UK, Netherlands, Sweden and Romania.
Top 5 importers import volume, 2016-2020
General Product Introduction
How is the UK market for exporting grapes?
Greek grapes constituted 2.3% of UK’s total grape imports in 2020. The top grape exporters to the UK are South Africa (USD 175M; 26%) and Spain (USD 110M; 16.4%). During Greece’s peak export season in the UK, Italy and Spain are the dominant exporters during the early half of the season, followed by Peru and Brazil during the latter half.
- South Africa is having the most challenging season where rain affected harvesting and quality, and logistics congestion leading to quotas on intakes.
- Italy and Spain were also affected by the intense heatwave, damaging the quality of grapes especially for the early varieties (Sugarone)
- There is currently high demand in Europe due to global shortage of stone fruits.