QUESTIONS ABOUT PRODROMOS SALMANIDIS S.A.
Mr. Salmanidis, is plastic a useful material, or should it be banned from the packaging and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables?
Plastic has now become an integral link in the supply chain of fresh fruits and vegetables, for which we all bear a share of responsibility for its efficiency.
What distinguishes plastic as a type of packaging is its significantly superior mechanical properties compared to its indirect competitors, such as paper and wooden packaging. Unlike its competitors, plastic has the property of not corroding and not absorbing moisture, which plays a significant role in long-distance transportation, a catalytic element for intensifying the industry’s outward orientation.
Lastly, and most importantly, it should be mentioned that when a plastic crate manufacturing industry (such as ours) uses accredited raw materials in its production process, then and only then are all the European directives regarding food packaging materials adhered to.
What are the characteristics of plastic crates that make them environmentally friendly, as you claim?
Preserving and protecting the environment is closely linked to recycling, a process that is encountered in plastic packaging at every stage of its life. Firstly, single-use plastic crates are produced 100% from recycled materials. Furthermore, throughout their lifespan and specifically at the destination of Greek fruits and vegetables, there are organized recycling facilities that accept plastic packaging, adhering to all strict EU recycling legislation.
There are many arguments claiming that products lose their identity when they are transported in single-use plastic crates, commonly known as the black plastic crates. What is your response to these claims?
Anonymous packaging is a market demand and not an exclusive characteristic of plastic packaging. We all know that packaging is shaped according to market demand, which is why we frequently encounter anonymous wooden and paper packaging as well.
Prolomos Salmanidis S.A. – Packaging Pellas is the only company in the Balkans that can provide its customers with solutions for branded plastic packaging, offering full-color digital printing of the logo and details of each respective customer upon request. This allows Greek products to acquire the branding they deserve.
With your products, you are closely familiar with the concerns and challenges of the fresh fruits and vegetables industry. Do you believe there is still room for development?
One could argue that by having relationships, if not with all, then with most traders in the industry, we listen attentively to even the slightest fluctuations in the system known as Greek fruits and vegetables.
The fervent desire of the entire ecosystem is the successful arrival of the product on the table of both Greek and foreign consumers. A product whose main component, namely the fruit and vegetable itself, has ample room for development, whether in terms of quality or variety, in order to provide traders with the necessary tools to enhance the negotiating power of the “Greek Fruit and Vegetable” brand.
What needs to change in order for us to move upwards?
We will not be able to provide an original answer since the catalytic role for upward progress in this sector is held by outward orientation. The prolonged stagnation of the domestic market has led to significant changes in Greek vegetable markets, making it imperative to increase exports. Only through continuous and systematic efforts from all stakeholders in the industry can there be a recovery and strengthening of the Greek brand.
What were the key milestones in your company’s long journey that have led it to its current leadership position in the field of manufacturing plastic crates for fresh fruits and vegetables?
Every business that respects itself and continues to thrive in the Greek market has achieved it through the introduction of innovations and embracing every technological advancement.
The pivotal turning point in our company’s history, which secured its leadership position in the field, was the effort of our father, Prodromos, to introduce and establish plastic packaging in the fruit and vegetable industry.
Furthermore, our company’s commitment to the quality of the final product has been another key factor that has helped us maintain long-standing customers and earn the trust of major industry manufacturers.
What else can we expect from SISKEVASTIKI Pellas in the near future?
Our company is currently undergoing a new cycle of investments aimed at modernizing our mechanical equipment and increasing our overall production capacity, in order to maintain our leadership position in the plastic packaging industry and further expand our market share. Another goal is to implement modern energy-saving practices to reduce our company’s impact on the environment, as well as optimize our services to better serve our customers and contribute as much as possible to the enhancement of the Greek brand.
Would you like to add something else?
We would like to express our gratitude and congratulate the magazine “Fruitonea” for its continuous and unwavering effort to showcase our industry and for the role it plays in its outward orientation through the organization of the Freshkon exhibition.
Sincerely,
Vasileios and Marios Salmanidis