The Skoura Olive Oil Mill is a family-run business in the Lakonia region (Greece) that transforms traditional olive processing with a high degree of innovation. The mill is situated in a microclimate ideal for olive cultivation and works closely with local producer communities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nikolaos Koumantarakis, a mechanical engineer, decided to leave his engineering career and return to the countryside. There, he applied his expertise to technically transform an existing mill. Under his leadership, a system was developed that evaluates and documents the quality of olives even before pressing. This seamless traceability makes it possible to minimize quality fluctuations and ensure stable processing standards.
The mill works with both certified organic farms and small-scale structures without official certification but with high ecological practices. The goal is to consolidate the harvests of various farms into a communal processing logic that combines efficiency, transparency, and quality.
A central element of the collaboration is the implementation of residue controls, which go far beyond legal standards. These ensure that no pesticides or other health-hazardous chemicals are used in cultivation. The results serve as additional proof alongside organic certification and strengthen trust in the quality of TEIKEI olive oil.
The technical structure enables continuous recording of delivered olive batches, their sensory and technical parameters, and yield. This information feeds into quality-driven processing that meets TEIKEI’s demands for traceability and transparency.
Additionally, the operation produces refined products, developed by Nikos’ brother—including olive antipasti and other specialties that may expand the TEIKEI offering in the future.
The bond between TEIKEI and the Skoura Olive Oil Mill began during a time of global uncertainty: In 2023, olive oil was scarcely available on the world market. Prices skyrocketed, particularly in Greece, where olive oil prices exceeded 10 euros per liter at the mill (in IBC tanks, without packaging).
It was during this period that Nikolaos Koumantarakis and Felix Schröder first met. In an intense and honest exchange, it became clear: For Nikos and his community, stability is more important than short-term profit. Despite high market prices, Nikolaos assured that a fair and long-term price of 7.50 euros per liter was a good price for the farmers—and he was willing to supply TEIKEI with olive oil even when other structures had long since stopped releasing quantities.
This attitude laid the foundation for a trusting and forward-looking collaboration. The willingness to act in solidarity during times of crisis made the Skoura Olive Oil Mill a shining example of the values TEIKEI upholds.
An expression of this close connection was the decision to celebrate TEIKEI’s 10th anniversary in autumn 2024 on the grounds of the Skoura Olive Oil Mill—a celebration of gratitude, connection, and new beginnings.
One level up: Processing Facilities with Responsibility and Transparency
Author: Felix Schröder, with assistance from AI (ChatGPT)
Creation: written by Felix Schröder › formatted in Markdown by ChatGPT › published by Felix Schröder › layout adjusted by Claude
Created: 2025-05-26 · Last updated: 2026-03-22 · Questions or feedback? support@teikei.us