The information website by, for and about
the tomato processing industry globally

Obituary: Makis Kanakaris

28/01/2020

Sophie Colvine
Greece,
WPTC
${printContents} `); printWindow.document.close(); printWindow.focus(); printWindow.print(); printWindow.close(); }); });

The Greek tomato industry mourns the passing of one of its true pioneers, Gerasimos (Makis) Kanakaris, founder of Adelcan. The imprint he leaves in this field is hard to overstate. Following in his father’s footsteps, who had a small tomato factory in the island of Santorini in the 1950s, Kanakaris went on to build one of the biggest tomato processing factories and exporting companies in Europe. Multiple award-winner and a global player, he became the premium Greek exporter of tomato products in the 1980s and 1990s. A great visionary, ahead of his time, he leveraged vertical integration to maximize efficiency and became one of the first can makers and tomato processors in the industry. He innovated his business through multiple joint ventures and went even beyond the borders of Greece to initiate processing activities in neighboring countries. His entrepreneurial spirit, generosity and genuine connection with partners and co-workers made him one of the most respected and beloved leaders in the field.
 
His legacy is continued by the family-owned Rasmelo Hellas Trading, a brokerage firm, which is currently one of the major tomato exporters in Greece. Kanakaris’s lifetime of charisma, integrity and hard work continue to inspire all those who have known and worked with him. He is survived by his wife, three children and six grandchildren.