1935 Spyros Kanellopoulos established a small enterprise on Astiggos Street in the city of Patras, processing sea salt that underwent conventional washing, drying and grinding to be sold in 50-kg sacks.
1937 Our salt was packaged in rectangular cardboard boxes, replacing the bulk sale that was the norm at groceries until that time. During that era, it was named 'CHION', meaning 'snow' and symbolising the purity of the salt.
1939 The enterprise was relocated to private premises covering 220sq.m. in the historical centre of Patras, and was modernised for the standards of the era. During WW2, one of the first action by the German occupation forces was to confiscate 50 tonnes of salt to cover the needs of the German army. The enterprise continued its operations at those premises until 1967.
1967 The enterprise was relocated to private premises covering 600sq.m. just outside Patras, on Akti Dymeon Street. Significantly modernised for the standards of the era, the enterprise began packaging salt in plastic 500gr bags, bearing the symbol of the traditional 'Cook', the trademark of the enterprise to this day.
1980 CHION moved to its present-day premises in the Patras Industrial Park, covering an area of 10,000 sq.m. and buildings with an area of 2,500 sq.m.; the enterprise began using fully innovative, state-of-the-art equipment to produce natural crystal sea salt products on par with those marketed by the largest European producers.
1986 With modern facilities and increased productivity, the enterprise launched an advertising campaign and marketed its products, now boasting upgraded quality, throughout Greece.
1999 The enterprise became the first salt company in Greece certified under the ISO 9002:1994 international quality standard for sea salt processing.
2010 CHION innovated once more by marketing coarse salt in a functional PET bottle.
2012 “Afro Thalassas” [sea foam] was launched on the market. An excellent quality sea salt from the Messolonghi salt pans in eco-friendly packaging that is collected by special manual methods from the salt foam. It is a favourite product of Chefs for its highly refined taste and texture.
2017 The company seals its tendency for extroversion by commencing with its participation in trade fairs of international interest in both Greece at the Food Expo in Athens, as well as abroad at Anuga in Cologne.
The company acquires Kosher Certification and seals the conformity of its production processes with the rules that are laid down by Jewish tradition, thus covering the needs of a wider religious audience.
2018 The company continues upgrading the quality systems relating to the Health and Safety of its products by proceeding with the certification of its processes according to the BRC (British Retail Consortium Global Standard) International Standards.
The company is included in the “ELLA-DIKA mas” [Our Greek] Initiative, which is a community of purely Greek production enterprises that have combined their resources to promote the modern business, productive wealth and culture of Greece.
2020 The company certifies its processes under HALAL standards in accordance with Islamic Law.
