History

Venus Growers was founded that year. It began as a cooperation of farmers distributing fruits and vegetables (especially peaches) domestically and abroad.

15 farmers become members from all country.
Began its activities by operating the public cool storage facilities in the area.
The first year results exceeded all expectations.

During second year the number of the members grew to 54 and the next year to 83 while the interest of the farmers to join the coop was ongoing and increasing.

During 1966-1968 Venus Growers completed the contrcuction of cold stogare-packing facilities through its own funding.

In 1975 VENUS goes beyond its initial objectives and becomes a leading player in the export of fresh fruit, by transporting significant amounts of products on a commission basis even for non-members. The Consortia Statute of Venus Growers is the basis of operation of the consortia that era.

In 1983 VENUS and farmers consortiums due to the incentives given to cooperative organizations and the amendment of the cooperative law and typically take the form into a cooperative.

The arboriculture is growing rapidly.
The trade moves to a different direction.
The cold storage packing facilities increase in number.
Parallel professions are growing (Fruit-crates companies, plastics companies, transport companies, etc.).
The Prefecture of Imathia becomes the focal point / the trading center of agricultural products (due to logistic infrastructure).
The employment of labour personnel in businesses as well as in fields is growing.

In 1990 the company decides to invest in processing. The first canning plant started its operation in 1992.

From the first year, Venus Growers is approved by the international market for the unique quality of its products.

In 1998 acquires its second 'child'. Venus Growers purchases the factory in Alexandria town (28 km from Veria factory and Headquarters) which is fully modernized. This results the fact that Venus Growers installations in Veria and Alexandria are the largest ones in the Greek industry.

The trading volumes of fresh fruit are about 35,000 tons and the canned products are about 30,000 tons which are mainly exported to Europe, America, Far East, and Australia.

The canning capacity is 40,000 tons. The cooperative currently has 650 natural persons and 10 legal entities (Cooperatives).

By its participation in:

absorption of fresh agricultural products,
foreign sales,
automation of production and recording,
number of members
international exhibitions and collaborations,
employment of workforce (Approx 1800 Average seasonal and 60 permanent)

Venus Growers becomes one of the largest export and agro industrial cooperatives in Greece.

In 2008 Venus Growers invests in fruit juice production line facility in Alexandria for further processing.

The processing capacity and trading rises on 10,000 tons of fresh fruit and 60,000 tons of processed products after the programming of plantation of new varieties of various deciduous fruits.

Today VENUS GROWERS is leading worldwide in canned fruits due to its long persistence, work, imagination and love of the contributing members for the creation of high nutritional value products.

Goals & Vision

The quality policy of Venus Growers is the cornerstone for achieving its objectives. All managers are responsible for ensuring the objectives while seeking continuous improvement of products and services.

Venus Growers objective is:

To produce high and stable quality products

The fully controlled conditions of hygiene and production safety

To provide maximum handling services

The high level of efficiency

To achieve this objective includes:

Personnel with high education

Excellent organization

Advanced technology equipment

Vision

The vision of Venus Growers is the maximum customer satisfaction by offering the highest quality products and efficient service.

To accomplish that seeks to:

Increase the profitability in order to encourage growers - members to improve and expand their operations.

To develop new products based on fruit, in order to encourage new consumers to consume healthy food and products.

To support the management and staff with continuous training and encouraging the development of individual initiatives with aim to improve the process and production quality.

To provide high level of working conditions and ensuring effective communication at all levels.

Agricultural Cooperative

Venus Growers is a member at the :

Chamber of Imathia
Exporters' Association of Northern Greece. (SEVE)
Union of Hellenic Canning Industry
National Inter-professional Organization of Industrial Peach and Pear

It has also developed partnerships with:

The Ministry of Agriculture, regarding the development of new varieties, as well as programmes of integrated management in the primary production
Universities and Research Institutes (R&D)
Customers for raising and developing new products
Suppliers for advancing new production methods
Producers for the development and implementation of new farming methods.

Enviroment

VENUS GROWERS showing a great interest in the growing environmental requirements, has thus developed an Environmental Management System. At the same time VENUS GROWERS proceeded to the functioning of the agricultural exploitation according to the requirements of the Integrated Management System.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

The company VENUS GROWERS, which is active in the fruit processing and canned fruit business, has decided to implement an environmental management system ISO 14001, and has developed a system for recording and monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on ISO 14064:1-2019 in order to follow the continuous and increasing interest in improving environmental conditions. As a result, it has adopted a general environmental policy, whose aim is to protect the environment (including the prevention of pollution), to better manage natural resources, and to continuously improve the environmental control of its activities.

The company’s environmental policy covers all the production procedures and aims to reduce the environmental consequences that result from these procedures. It also aims to promote a more general philosophy of protecting the environment. The company commits to implement environmental programs that aim to achieve the following goals:

Abiding by the relevant (national and European) legislation regarding the protection of the environment.
Employee information and training in order for them to actively participate in the environmental management system that the company is developing.
Defining the environmental factors, goals and objectives that are reviewed on a yearly basis, according to the company’s commitment to continuous improvement of environmental issues.
Providing all necessary information to other organizations, in order for them to improve their environmental presence and to reduce their impact on the environment.
Implementation of an environmental management system that aims at continuously improving the company’s environmental presence.
Continue the implementation of the integrated system "Recording & Monitoring of Greenhouse Gas Emissions", aiming at reducing the carbon footprint
Better management of energy, natural resources and materials needed in order to cover the company’s production needs.
Waste sorting at the source, in all the steps of the production process.
Forwarding of all solid waste materials to legally authorised waste management companies in order to further process them (production of energy, composting, recycling) according to the legislation in place.
Frequent measurements of air pollution in order to protect the atmosphere.
Frequent measurements of liquid waste, in order to protect the water system.
Frequent maintenance of equipment, in order to avoid environmental accidents.

The environmental policy has been communicated and is being implemented by all the company’s employees, and is verified through frequent reviews, in order to ensure its suitability and its effectiveness

Veria, 03/02/2025 Issue 5

The General Manager

St. Theodoulidis

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK POLICY

Occupational Health and Safety is a cornerstone in VENUS GROWERS’ attempts at achieving its goals. The company has developed and implements a Health and Safety Management System according to the International Standard ISO45001, and commits to abide by all relevant legislation (National and European).etc requirements.

The company’s goal is to Develop, Process and Trade fruit processed products, with zero accidents and no health implications for employees.

The management commits to implementing the Occupational Health and Safety Management System, as well as the continuous improvement of its performance, which it monitors thru quantitative objectives. Furthermore, it commits to provide all necessary resources needed in order to achieve Occupational Health and Safety.

All the employees have been informed and are responsible for the implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System, while at the same time thriving to continually improve its performance.

The company’s managements takes the responsibility of providing all employees with the necessary means, personal protection equipment, specialised equipment, training etc, in order to ensure that all personnel is directly involved in the company’s attempts to continuously improve work conditions as well as the quality of life of its employees.

The company's management is committed to continuously improving the performance of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System and on the prevention of injuries and diseases of workers.

To achieve continuous improvement of care for health and safety at work, everyone in the company should constantly aim to give their best at work, within their capabilities, and to comply with established procedures.

During the annual review of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System this policy may be modified depending on the needs of the company and with a view to continuously improving company performance in health and safety.

Veria, 05/06/2024 Issue 4