INTERVIEW FOR AKROLITHOS SA FROM THE ONLINE NEWSPAPER VORIA.GR

The economist who sent the natural stones rocks of Paggaio mountain to Hawaii USA. Akrolithos: The company from Kavala that exports natural stones and ... builds floors into the five continents. The beginning, the first steps and the future goals. According to ancient Greek and Latin writings, Mount Paggaio, which extends geographically in the prefectures of Kavala and Serres, was well known for its silver and gold mines, but also for its richness in natural stones. An private personal company founded in 1979, under the name of Hatzisavvas G., was to be the forerunner of today's company, which exports to all five continents worldwide, obtains its strength from the schist slates of Paggaio mountain. In the middle of the global economic crisis, in 2008, Akrolithos managed to reverse the ratio of its sales, as exports became the clear priority, compared to sales in the domestic market. The company’s target is the supply of raw materials to engineers and architects, as well as the mining and processing of natural stones, which are used for paving, wall cladding, for houses, catering facilities, hotels, buildings. As Mr. George Hatzisavvas, the founder of Akrolithos, says to Voria.gr, he started from a small warehouse: “We started with a friend of mine, creating a stone processing laboratory, since the area where we live produces significant quantities of slate and we saw a broad development perspective on this business opportunity. " From the accounting office of the state radio station to his own business. "It was a period right after I finished my studies. At the same time, I was working for the state radio station of Kavala, supplementing my income, since, having completed my studies in finance, I was hired by the accounting department. At that time, payrolls were coming out in handwriting, on a long list of employee names. Leaving the radio station, I worked in the accounting department of a company that traded marbles, and then I set up my own processing laboratory, together with my partner. " Realizing the prospects of the slate processing, he resigned from the accounting firm of the marble company, in order to devote himself exclusively into his own business. "After a while, our paths with my partner split. He created his own stone workshop and I created mine. Along the way, later on, I bought his own workshop, as he stopped working on it, "said Mr Hatzisavvas. From 14.000 ... to 100.000 sqms. The next step was the relocation of the company, building its new production and storage facilities in an area of 14.000 sqms. Today, the total area in which Akrolithos has as facilities amounts to 100.000 sqms, having approximately 8,000 square meters of covered area, where the company's exhibition center and stone processing plant are hosted. How did the name "Akrolithos" come? Referring to the name of the company, Mr. Hatzisavvas explains that the nature of the word akrolithos is twofold. "My wish was to use a name that would be more auspicious than the original name of the company, which initialy was Hatzisavvas George. Thus, arose after much consideration and thought, the word Akrolithos, which is compound, derived from the words edge or end and stone. In fact, the word "edge or end" has a special relationship for me, as it is associated with the Akrovouni of Kavala, while the word akrolithos characterizes the sharp edge of the stone ". The first exports. The first exports were quite limited and sporadic, beginning around 1986. "I remember doing an export in Austria, in Germany, and closing a very good job in Honolulu, Hawaii, to design the exterior areas of a hotel. Then our exports grew, gradually covering a bigger percentage of our company’s sales. " Reaching 75% of company’s turnover in exports. Indicative of the philosophy that developed since the beginning of the crisis, in 2008, is the fact that until then its share of exports on the company’s turnover was at the level of 25%, while the 75% was from sales within Greece. During the crisis, Mr. Giannis Hatzisavvas, the son of the founder of AKrolithos, who joined the company, took over the responsibility of exports, and the balance between exports and domestic sales gradually changed. The company, to gain lost sales in Greece which at that period were reduced significantly, managed today, to export 75% of its overall sales, having the remaining 25% in the Greek market. The most important export markets for the Akrolithos are the countries of the European Union. However, at the same time, its products are also available in North Africa, Asia (Japan, Hong Kong), Australia, America (USA and South America). Waiting for permits for four more quarries. Mr. Hatzisavvas explains that the company's productive activity takes place in Paggaio, where Akrolithos currently maintains four active quarries, while it expects the issuance of new licenses, which will enable the operation of four more. The target is to develop a store and distribution center in Attica and warehouses abroad. The company's goal from Kavala is to re-strengthen its presence in the Greek market, where, as its leader says, it has lost a significant part of its sales due to the economic crisis. "Currently we are working on the creation of a store and distribution center in Athens, with the target of developing the Greek market. But apart from that, we are looking to build warehouses abroad, in countries like America. " Investments before and during the crisis - Investment plan for more than 5 million euros He points out that the company has made significant investments before and during the crisis, expanding its production and range of its products, to develop its activity abroad. At the same time, Akrolithos started recently the implementation of an ambitious investment program, with the aim of expanding the showroom, creating new warehouses and upgrading its production facilities, thus, launching new products to the market. This investment will be completed by 2020 Akrolithos in numbers Exports to more than 90 countries Turn over 2018: ~ 12 million euros (+ 10%) Turn over 2019 (est.): + 20% Πηγή: https://www.voria.gr/article/o-ikonomologos-pou-estile-ta-petromata-tou-pangeou-eos-ke-ti-chavai