Papastratos celebrated its 95th anniversary at a special commemorative event, highlighting a journey spanning nearly a century that is inextricably linked to Greek manufacturing, industry, the economy, and society.
The event was honored by the presence of the President of the Republic, Mr. Konstantinos Tasoulas, and was attended by members of the government, members of parliament, and representatives of local government, the business community, as well as Papastratos partners and executives.
From the opening of its historic factory in Piraeus in 1931 to the present era of radical transformation, innovation, and outward-looking expansion, Papastratos has followed a path of continuous evolution. At its 95th-anniversary event, Papastratos not only honored its past but also marked the beginning of the next five years on the path to its 100th anniversary by announcing its major new initiative, FutuReady Greece.
The President of the Republic spoke about Papastratos’s long-standing history and its contribution to Greek manufacturing, industry, and society, stating, among other things: “Today, as we celebrate Papastratos’ 95th anniversary, we are in fact honoring an entire philosophy of work, family, and the progress of our homeland.
Papastratos was linked to Greece’s industrial rise. It was linked to an era when the country was learning to organize its productive capacity, to harness technical knowledge, and to trust in its own potential. Throughout the 20th century, it followed the evolution of Greek industry, adapted to the demands of each era, and withstood great trials. And today, it keeps pace with the developments of a new industrial era, shaped by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The history of Papastratos is, first and foremost, a family story. It is the story of an extended family, from the executives to the workers and the people who stood by the company during difficult times. And yet, they never sacrificed their principles or abandoned their ideals. Today we honor a story of Greek success. We honor those who founded it, those who carried it forward, and those who are leading it into the future today.”
George Margonis, President of Papastratos and Vice President of Philip Morris International for Southeast Europe, reflected on the company’s 95-year journey, emphasizing that Papastratos has managed to stand the test of time because it never stood still, but instead changed, adapted, and always sought the next step. As he aptly noted: “Today we are not simply celebrating an anniversary. We are celebrating a 95-year journey of creativity, trust, and evolution. A story of people, written from generation to generation. As we move toward Papastratos’s 100th anniversary, we look back with pride and forward with responsibility.”
FutuReady Greece: Investing in the Next Generation
On the road to its 100th anniversary, Papastratos presented FutuReady Greece, a new multi-action platform with a five-year horizon, based on three pillars: education, employment, and society. The initiative aims to support the younger generation in Greece by strengthening their skills, self-confidence, and career prospects at a time of rapid change in the labor market, technology, and society.
As part of FutuReady Greece, Papastratos announced four specific commitments:
- A strategic partnership with the Department of Management Science and Technology at the Athens University of Economics and Business, which includes, among other things, scholarships for 50 students from outside Athens, mentoring, lectures, internships, and joint research on the skills of the future.
- Skills development and career readiness programs for 1,000 young people.
- A paid internship program for 100 young people.
- A program to strengthen the country’s educational infrastructure.
Tina Davou, the new CEO of Papastratos, spoke about the importance of evolution, continuity, and the next generation for the next chapter of Papastratos, noting:
“Today, 95 years after the start of this journey, we stand here not only to honor what we have achieved, but to look ahead together. Papastratos’ true strength has always lain in what comes next: in the ability to invest in people, their ideas, and their boldness to blaze new trails. We don’t wait for the future. We create it.”
The anniversary celebration concluded with the launch of the journey toward Papastratos’ 100th anniversary, in which all attendees symbolically participated. With its sights set on the next generation, the company opened the next chapter of its history, reaffirming its commitment to continue investing in Greece, its people, innovation, and social progress.