In 1994, Archie Tsoukras set up a business that would not only become a family legacy but also change the way Australians understand the tastes and flavours of Greece. With a 40 year background in the liquor and grocery industry, Mr Tsoukras took this knowledge and established Tirnavos Imports. As the CEO of the company, he began trading as an importer of Fine Wines & Spirits, which he imported from his hometown of Tirnavos Greece, unloading his containers at the back of his supermarket.
Through the company, he wanted to import and supply not only the Greek community with the finest flavours the Hellenic Republic has to offer, but also introduce wines and liquors to Australian consumers and bring Greek wine to the forefront.
Since then, he has moved to bigger facilities, expanded his product range to include an extensive range of liquor, still and sparkling water and the unique Kalamata balsamic vinegar, which the company imports from all over Greece.
“Our products are distributed nationally via distributors and also available through the major liquor and grocery chains in Australia,” explains his daughter Vicky Tsoukras, accounts manager, Tirnavos Imports. The company are also distributors of products in the state of Victoria for various importers.
Being a family run business, Vicky says that the company is able to build strong relationships, with both its suppliers and customers given a more personalised service than from many of the larger chains. And their vision is always to promote a taste of Greece in the Australian market.
“We pride ourselves in having a wide variety of ouzo from all over Greece, an ouzo to suit everyone’s taste buds,” Vicky tells Neos Kosmos.
“Some of the most popular ouzos in our range include katsaros ouzo and Jivaeri ouzo from Tirnavos in Thessalia – a renowned area for ouzo – the increasingly popular Plomari ouzo from the island of Mitilini and the newest edition to our ouzo family – Giokarinis Samos ouzo and Jivaeri triple distilled ouzo.
“We have also sourced top class Greek wines from all over Greece such as the premium range of Domaine Hatzimichalis located in Atalante Central Greece, Domaine Costa Lazaridis located in Drama Northern Greece, and Katogi Averoff, located in Metsovo, as well as the famous dessert grape wine variety Muscat from Lemnos and Samos.”
Tirnavos Imports also acts as something of a trendsetter in flavours coming from Greece. The new kid on the block in Mediterranean alcoholic flavours is mastiha, which is gaining popularity with bartenders globally in creating new cocktail sensations.
“Skinos Mastiha is the only existing mastiha product that is the product of distillation using real mastiha resin, and is currently our fastest growing product used widely by bartenders,” she says.
And just before Christmas last year, Tirnavos Imports launched the Greek Amstel Beer on the Australian market.
“Despite the current economic climate business continues with the same pace, striving to always improve and grow as the market’s demands grow,” Vicky says.
“We further believe there is a positive shift in the perception of Greek products, especially when it comes to Greek premium wines evident, from the opening of a number of fine Greek restaurants featuring a broader selection of Greek products.”
For more information on Tirnavos Imports, visit www.tirnavosimports.com.au/