Another honorary award to our founder
Model of Man, Family man and businessman
An honorary award was recently awarded to the founder of the Pitenis family business. His award was held in the context of the 1st Exhibition and the parallel Conference entitled "Western Macedonia of Creation and Innovation", held by the 7 until 9 February 2023 at the Exhibition Center of Western Macedonia, in Koila, Kozani.
This three-day event was organized by the Region of Western Macedonia, the Western Macedonia Regional Development Fund, the Regional Research and Innovation Council, as well as the Western Macedonia RIS Structure, with the main aim of exploiting the innovative results of projects and actions by businesses, researchers, inventors, universities and research institutes.
Having contributed as few as possible to connecting entrepreneurship with innovation, the 86-year-old Agamemnon Pitenis could not be absent from the honored persons.
Talking about starting Pitenis company, explained how "I gained many clients or rather friends - because we had become friends with my clients - who we still have as clients".
With his hand on his heart he pointed out from the stage of the event: “The success of this business is not solely due to me. It's because of my kids, who entered with gusto, with zeal and above all with faith in the quality of the product". And fill in: "What gives me the most satisfaction is that I managed to keep my children - all four boys I have - here, at our city, Kozani".
At the end of his short speech, Agamemnon Pitenis gave a warm hug to the Vice-Regional Governor for Promotion of Cultural Heritage and Employment and. Georgios Vavliaras, from whom he received the honorable mention of the Region for his multi-faceted and multi-year contribution to the economic life of our country.
"I feel real emotion", the Deputy Governor stated for his part. "First Agamemnon raised a wonderful family… Private initiative at its best!he emphasized, speaking in the most complimentary terms about the awardee.
Fighter of life, Mr.. Menios – as he is more widely known – literally started from scratch.
With the precious help of his beloved late wife Theodora, managed to hand over the business "baton" to his four sons, who created a nationwide and international gourmet food industry.
As he has mentioned in an earlier interview, Greek businesses must invest in extroversion and turn to foreign markets.
Although retired, he is every day at the factory next to his children, which he is also happy to accompany on their business trips. He participates in the exhibitions of Pitenis products and wherever else it is necessary for a professional purpose, while he has been awarded by many notable bodies for his great work and business activity.
His advice to all Greek entrepreneurs: "We must never lose the LOVE for the product or service we produce". The products of our New ‘Vegan’ Series are Mayonnaise, the values of entrepreneurship that he advocates are none other than the love for what he does, the hard work, patience, perseverance and vision for the future.
Speech and award of Mr. Menu at the beginning of the three days:
Benjamin of a poor family
Agamemnon Pitenis is a native of Kozani and founder of the Pitenis family business, one of today's largest food production and marketing companies in Greece.
His father Dimitrios Pitenis was a Vlach who was born in 1888 in Samarina Grevena. During the First World War he was captured, together with other Greeks, and sent to Germany. There he was forced to become a worker in an arms industry. His parents in Greece thought he was dead, resulting in all the memorial services being held for him. When, after four years, he appeared before them alive, they lived moments of great joy and longing.
Dimitrios Pitenis married Stergiani Mokia of Vlach descent, also from Samarina. The couple had five children from their marriage, John, I caress her, Constantine, Mary and Agamemnon. The family left Samarina at some point and settled in Kozani, where Dimitrios Pitenis worked as a tobacco worker until his retirement. He then became active as a broker for a Greek-Austrian company that bought tobacco. He was a man who enjoyed the esteem of all his fellow citizens in Kozani. During the Occupation (1941-1944) many urged him to cooperate with the conquerors and become their translator because he knew the German language, but he didn't. He preferred to fight for a piece of bread and feed his family with it.
Benjamin of the family, Agamemnon, was born in 20 December 1936. He attended primary school in his town and then in Valtadorio until the third year of high school. From the age of seven, little Menios, as they called him, he helped as much as he could in the coffee shop owned by his two older brothers, carrying coffees to the neighborhood shops.
His father's great pity was that at least one of his children should study. But work and school could not go hand in hand. When Agamemnon reached the third grade of high school, his father decided to continue, as an introvert, at the then famous Trabantzeio Boarding School and High School of Siatista. To stay there the child had to pay, so his father sent them 200 from 240 drachmas he earned from his work.
Restless and creative spirit
Agamemnon quickly distinguished himself for his performances in classical and team sports. The volleyball and basketball teams of Siatista, which were created at that time led by Agamemnon, went down in history for their distinctions. particularly, the volleyball team went undefeated in the three years that Agamemnon was their captain.
Siatista's boarding school was famous. Great personalities studied in his classes. So, he himself always felt very lucky to have studied at Trapandzeio.
Before even graduating from Trabantzeio, his father died, leaving the large family and its obligations in the hands of his two eldest boys.
Finishing sixth form high school, the 1957, Agamemnon went to Athens to take exams in order to enter the Gymnastic Academy, as he had a great love for sports. Tested in competitions at Kallimarmaro, and while he did very well, he was ultimately not accepted into the Academy. Dating played an important role at that time, which he himself did not possess. Despite all his qualifications and despite the support of his teachers, the stone years of post-military Greece did not give him the opportunity to enter the Gymnastics Academy, which was his great desire.
Disappointed, he immediately went to do his military service, as a reserve officer. When he was fired, entered the business arena with vigor, establishing businesses either with his brother Konstantinos Pitenis or with third partners.
The period 1953-1993 worked at the grocery store "Pitenis", which he founded with his brothers Ioannis and Konstantinos, whose daughters run the business to this day. The 1993 resigned due to expansion of the current food production and marketing industry.
The period 1961-1963 started the dry fruit business "Pitenis-Tsikritzis", with Lazaros Tsikritzis as a partner, which is still operated by his son Nikolaos Tsikritzis. The 1963 resigned, when his brother Constantine underwent stomach surgery, and Agamemnon was forced to keep the grocer by himself.
The 1967 Agamemnon Pitenis married the wife of his life Theodora Avarakis, born it 1947 originally from Platanias, Chania. When he first met her, he began to besiege her with chants. "There were times when forty people chanted in Dora", has clarified. The couple had four sons.
From 1968 until the 1973 kept the history for the city of Kozani cafe "El Greco", together with his brother Konstantinos and his friend Stefanos Pafas. The cafe existed under the same name until a few years ago. The 1973 he quit because he had started, a year ago, to make tests to prepare his now famous salads.
In between, the 1971, founded the disco "Tiffani's", which was a great success and resonated with the world. But he sold it a year later, the 1972, when, after working in the morning at the grocery store, in the afternoon at the cafeteria and at night at the disco, he realized that his then two young children, three and two years old respectively, they called him "grandpa", calling his father-in-law "dad"..
His father-in-law's name was Nikolaos Avarakis. Born in 1901 in Platanias, Chania Prefecture, Crete. He married Androniki Vailou, born it 1921 originally from Asia Minor. He himself was a confederate and the 1954 he was transferred to Kozani. He went there with his wife and their daughter Theodora, who was then only seven years old. So, Theodora Avaraki suddenly found herself in Kozani. Shortly before the end of the sixth grade high school of Kozani, she fell in love with her later husband Agamemnon Pitenis. Nikolaos Avarakis found it difficult to consent to the marriage. But seeing the great persistence of Agamemnon, he finally gave his consent.
When the couple, to get married, he had to go to the registry office, Theodora discovered that she was adopted by her birth certificate. This fact shook her, Naturally.
As Agamemnon Pitenis reports: "Life gives us strange situations, sometimes pleasant and sometimes unpleasant… Without a second thought, we went down to Crete, along with her adoptive parents, to meet the people who gave birth to my wife. When we arrived at her home, all her siblings and their families were already gathered - a small "village".
The moment mother and daughter met was indescribable. Mrs. Helen's response when she heard Theodora calling her mother was also shocking: "My girl, your mother is the one who raised you, not me".
Theodora never lost her Cretan pride. Her youngest son, Stylianos Avarakis Pitenis, deals with Cretan tradition as a tribute to his mother. In fact, the 2010 took over as President of the Cretan Association of Kozani Prefecture. Having effectively contributed to all Macedonian Cretan associations, the 2011 was elected honorary President of the Union of Cretan Associations of Macedonia.
Agamemnon's "real" father-in-law was Konstantinos Avarakis. Born in Platanias, Chania, he was a farmer. He had seven children with Eleni. At that time the phenomenon of adopting children between siblings was common. So, Konstantinos Avarakis gave birth to the third of his seven children, little Theodora, to his brother Nikolaos, who had no children.
The taste of success
In the middle of 1972, as the salad supplier from Thessaloniki was unable to meet the increased needs of the grocer in Kozani, Agamemnon Pitenis tried to make his own recipes. His first attempts were fruitless.
But his stubbornness led him to turn a small warehouse behind his house into a small salad production workshop. He started this small workshop with his brother Konstantinos and his friend Stefanos Pafa, later his best man. After the first year of fruitless efforts, Stefanos Pafas resigned from the project, unable to invest further and withdrew.
After many experiments, endless nights and failed attempts, Agamemnon Pitenis managed to create his own recipes. His new creations began to be sold through the grocery store and became popular in the Kozani area.
The 1975 therefore decided to establish the "Piteni" Salad Craft, in which he included his brother, officially moving production to a new location, just 150 sq.m.. So, the laboratory obtained a license and its salads a personality.
From 1975 until the 1988, alongside his then business qualities, the tireless Agamemnon Pitenis also dealt with the commons of his place. So, the 1975 was elected President of the 11th Primary School of Kozani, where he was continuously re-elected until 1988, when he retired. Then the school honored him with the title of Honorary President. Furthermore, the 1978 was elected Municipal Councilor of Kozani, assuming the duties of Vice President of the Municipal Council, position in which he remained until 1982.
The 1985, when demand for the company's products had peaked in the city, were moved to new facilities 300 sq.m., in Koila, Kozani, simultaneously starting the first routes outside Kozani, with the scope of the prefectures of Western Macedonia.
The customers were constantly expanding, and 1993 the craft passed exclusively into the hands of Agamemnon Pitenis, on the occasion of the participation in the company of his eldest son, Dimitriou, who returned to Greece after completing his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in London. Agamemnon, in exchange, he conceded his participation in the grocery store, as well as other assets to his brother Constantine.
The 1995 his second son also returned, Nicholas, from his studies in London. All together decided to transfer the craft to larger and modern infrastructures of total area 14.000 sq.m., with building facilities 2.000 sq.m., participating with a program in the Development Law, to be able to meet the ever-increasing demand of the local market for salads and to enrich the range of products produced, turning it into the current brand "Afi A. Piteni SA".
From 1997 until the 1998 his last two sons also completed their studies, Andreas and Stylianos, and were added to the company's workforce, which had already finished the financing program and was operating in its new premises. The production now included nineteen new salad recipes, but also three new product lines, fish and molluscs in olive oil, stuffed pickles with cheese and dressings, surpassing in their entirety 100 codes.
So, the then 62-year-old Agamemnon Pitenis decided to retire, having four worthy successors at the helm of the business, where they too, like their father, from a young age they participated in the daily agony of their parents, to the difficult one, but at the same time beautiful this struggle of constant striving for the best.
An amazing woman
Accompanying Agamemnon's business activities was his great love, Theodora. He was never absent from him in joys and sorrows, while responding to many roles at the same time, of the housewife whose house was always open to everyone, of the mother who raised four boys, but also of a worthy wife, assistant and supporter in all her husband's ventures.
Theodora's unfair fate did not give her the opportunity to enjoy together with her beloved Menio, as she called him, the achievements of their four children, that have now traveled Pitenis products around the world. The 2000 in a random examination she was diagnosed with breast cancer and, despite all the efforts made by the whole family to save her, finally succumbed to it 2006. It was just 59 years old and only got to know the first two of her six grandchildren.
Theodora had an innate talent for painting and painted until the end of her life. He created many paintings, which adorn the homes of her four sons. Before she died she was drawing with one hand, as the other was in trouble due to her illness. In the last two months of her life she painted non-stop to provide as many paintings as she could to her children.
She was an amazing woman, a coquette, always well-groomed until the end. She loved to have her home open and full of people. Countless were the dinner parties he made for friends and acquaintances of the family, every chance he got, as well as her children's holiday parties. It was something that never tired her, but on the contrary he was thanking her.
Although she left very young, sucked life to the core, leaving behind a very close-knit family.