In 2012, after only six months of retirement, Dimitri and Rosemary Dimitriades cashed in their savings and bought a 7ha smallholding in the Lions River area of the KwaZuluNatal Midlands. Dimitri had a dream of manufacturing carefully crafted dairy products in the renowned style of his Greek ancestors, and the couple began experimenting with recipes for various yoghurts and cheeses. Through hard work and determination, they perfected the recipe for their now-famous, and deliciously rich, double-cream, strained plain yoghurt, registered and established The Gourmet Greek brand, and began selling small batches of the yoghurt to local eateries, delicatessens and retailers in December 2012.
Iakovos, the couple’s son, says that in the first year of operation, his parents, assisted by only one employee, sourced and processed about 300â„“/ week of locally produced fresh Jersey milk into Greek yoghurt. After award-winning celebrity chef Jackie Cameron tasted the yoghurt, she nominated it as an entry into the Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards, and it came top in the Best Small Producer (Dairy) category.
Through word of mouth, demand for the yoghurt skyrocketed. At the same time, Dimitri and Rosemary started producing a small range of Greek-influenced cheeses.
Business increased so much that the entire family became involved. The couple’s daughter, Filia, recalls that by the end of 2014, she and her parents were regularly working 12- to 16-hour days and were “at the point of physical and emotional burnout”.
“I closed down my Angora rabbit enterprise on the smallholding to work full- time with my parents on the production side. Iakovos, who is business-minded, joined us full-time in 2015,” she says.
A WIDE RANGE
Denne historien er fra August 21, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra August 21, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
