Fage
Encyclopedia
Fage S.A. is a Greek
dairy
company and one of the major dairy brands in the country. It is headquartered in Athens
in the Athens Industrial Area west of downtown. It manufactures dairy products including milk
, yogurt and ice cream
. The word φάγε is a singular imperative verb meaning 'eat!'.
and its yogurt became well known. In 1954, they created the first network of mass produced yogurt in Attica
. In 1964, the first yogurt-producing factory opened in Galatsi
.
, was introduced, becoming a huge success.
Additionally, after a significant investment in research and machinery, Fage presented a new innovative product to the Greek market, High Pasteurized Milk, which created a new category of milk.
Today, Fage offers a wide range of milk including its most popular Farma Milk.
started a public scare that resulted in the disposal of all dioxin-affected milk. Several months later by the Fall, Fage's dairy products became free of dioxins and the company began to use milk exported from decontaminated countries.
In the late-1990s, with its popularity, Fage began marketing its products and began selling in Belgium
, France
, Germany
, Italy
, the Netherlands
, and the United Kingdom
. From 2001, its immense popularity even outside the worldwide Greek community and diaspora led to its introduction in the United States
where it has located its headquarters in Johnstown, NY
. The yogurt was later featured in Saveur
magazine.
In the USA, it is featured in many magazines and books promoting healthy eating. In 2007, it won the "Superior Taste Award
".
. The billboard looked as if a Tweety
balloon had gotten stuck in the yoghurt. In 2011, Fage began airing "its first television advertisements in North America," featuring voiceover
work by actor Willem Dafoe
.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
company and one of the major dairy brands in the country. It is headquartered in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in the Athens Industrial Area west of downtown. It manufactures dairy products including milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
, yogurt and ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
. The word φάγε is a singular imperative verb meaning 'eat!'.
Early history
On September 1, 1926, Father Filippou opened a small dairy in PatissiaPatissia
Patissia is a neighborhood of central Athens, Greece.It is split in two neighbourhoods: Ano Patissia and Kato Patissia . The main streets of Patissia are Patision Av. and Acharnon Av....
and its yogurt became well known. In 1954, they created the first network of mass produced yogurt in Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
. In 1964, the first yogurt-producing factory opened in Galatsi
Galatsi
Galatsi , called in Katharevousa Galatsion , is a northern suburb of Athens, Greece, and a municipality of the Attica region. Until the mid-20th century, the area was mainly made up of farmlands but due to the continuous expansion of the Greek capital, Galatsi was rapidly urbanised and has come to...
.
Yogurt
In 1974 the current FAGE factory was built. In 1975, Fage perfected the standardization of yogurt making, which radically changed the Greek market. This made the yogurt have a consistent taste and longer shelf life. New varieties and flavors were introduced shortly after. In 1981 exports to the European market began. TOTAL, the first strained yoghurtStrained yoghurt
Strained yoghurt, yoghurt cheese, labneh, or Greek yoghurt is yoghurt which has been strained in a cloth or paper bag or filter to remove the whey, giving a consistency between that of yoghurt and cheese, while preserving yoghurt's distinctive sour taste...
, was introduced, becoming a huge success.
Cheese
In 1991 Fage entered the cheese market, mostly manufacturing traditional Greek cheese. It produces, packs and supplies to consumers in Greece and abroad a variety of cheeses including its trademark Feta cheese. Today, FAGE has a large range of cheeses including: Feta, Graviera, Trikalino, Trikalino Light, Gouda, Edam, Plagia, Regato, Sandwich Cheese, Junior portions, Junior slices, Junior Meridoules, and Flair.Milk
In 1993 Fage entered the fresh milk market, introducing FAGE Fresh Milk all over Greece. In this same year, the company built new factories exclusively for fresh pasteurized milk, a new line of pasteurization, homogenization, new machinery, and packaging.Additionally, after a significant investment in research and machinery, Fage presented a new innovative product to the Greek market, High Pasteurized Milk, which created a new category of milk.
Today, Fage offers a wide range of milk including its most popular Farma Milk.
Current operations
In June 1999, the dioxin problems that plagued several milk exporters from BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
started a public scare that resulted in the disposal of all dioxin-affected milk. Several months later by the Fall, Fage's dairy products became free of dioxins and the company began to use milk exported from decontaminated countries.
In the late-1990s, with its popularity, Fage began marketing its products and began selling in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. From 2001, its immense popularity even outside the worldwide Greek community and diaspora led to its introduction in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where it has located its headquarters in Johnstown, NY
Johnstown (city), New York
Johnstown is a city and the county seat of Fulton County in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 Census, the city had population of 8,511. Recent estimates put the figure closer to 8,100. The city was named by its founder, Sir William Johnson after his son John Johnson...
. The yogurt was later featured in Saveur
Saveur
Saveur is a gourmet, food, wine, and travel magazine that specializes in essays about various world cuisines. The publication was co-founded by Dorothy Kalins, Michael Grossman, Christopher Hirsheimer, and Colman Andrews, who was also the editor-in-chief from 1996 to 2001...
magazine.
In the USA, it is featured in many magazines and books promoting healthy eating. In 2007, it won the "Superior Taste Award
Superior Taste Award
The Superior Taste Award is a prize bestowed annually recognising food and beverages with excellent taste and quality. The awards have been granted since 2005 by the International Taste & Quality Institute , seated in Brussels, Belgium....
".
Advertising
In 2007, Fage put a billboard along the route of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
. The billboard looked as if a Tweety
Tweety
Tweety Bird is a fictional Yellow Canary in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of animated cartoons. The name "Tweety" is a play on words, as it originally meant "sweetie", along with "tweet" being a typical English onomatopoeia for the sounds of birds...
balloon had gotten stuck in the yoghurt. In 2011, Fage began airing "its first television advertisements in North America," featuring voiceover
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
work by actor Willem Dafoe
Willem Dafoe
Willem Dafoe is an American film, stage, and voice actor, and a founding member of the experimental theatre company The Wooster Group...
.
See also
- List of companies in Greece
- Agno S.A.
- Delta S.A.
- Evga S.A.Evga S.A.Evga S.A. is a Greek dairy company and it one of the major dairy brands in the country. It is headquartered in Athens. The company produces ice cream, juices, croissants and frozen pastry products.EVGA has been operating in the Greek market since 1934....
- MevgalMevgalMEVGAL is a Greek a brand of dairy products company, the largest in Northern Greece and the third largest producer of fresh dairy products in the country. Its name is an acronym for Macedonian Milk Industry...