There is more to Cyprus’ agricultural exports than potatoes and halloumi. Alion is a good example.

This company not only sells vegetables, herbs and fruits in Cyprus, but also exports herbs to 25 countries.

It is a family business, run by managing director Theodoros Zavos and his cousin. Established in 1990, the company was originally a packing and exporting company of fresh vegetables, fresh herbs and fruits. By 2008, it expanded and introduced ‘Ready to Eat’ salads to the local market which are now in supermarkets all over Cyprus.

While in Cyprus the company is well known for its pre-prepared salads, it also exports a large amount of herbs and other products. More than 50 per cent of British supermarket giant Waitrose’s herbs come from Alion, which owns land in Pera Chorio, Kornos, Monagrouli and Paphos.

Greenhouses on the Alion plantation

The main export markets are the UK and Germany, and this means being closely supervised and having to adhere to strict regulations.

“Our main priority is people’s health. This is our long time mission and vision because we are customers as well,” Zavos said. “When customers see the product they see only a tiny part. We have invested in this from our soul and we are investing passion.”

He explained that especially since the crisis, the company has employed more young people for their technical team, another ‘invisible’ part of the business. The team attends exhibitions and seminars and works at finding new products and improving methods of production, among other things.

The technical team also continuously checks health, safety and quality, ensuring continuity in supply.

“You cannot neglect anything. Germany and the UK expect full compliances with their health and safety laws,” he said.

For example, the plants have to be pesticide free.

“Before harvesting the plots undergo a technical analysis. Sometimes some crops can be affected by nearby plantations. If they spray, we have to postpone harvesting until the pesticides disappear.”

These are some things which are hard to fight. Germany is especially strict. “They allow a level of residue which is five times less than the EU standard. This makes things very complicated. We spray biological but this is much harder work against diseases and you might not get the best quality. In salads you might have snails and worms.”

With so much demand from Germany and the UK, why are these countries choosing a Cypriot company rather than a local one?

“Because of the climate. The plants have more aroma and flavour than anywhere in the world,” Zavos said. Indeed, the name ‘Alion’ originates from the Greek word for ‘Sun’.

“A Cyprus-based business can take advantage of what cannot be grown in northern Europe,” he explained. “Cyprus has two mayor seasons. In winter herbs can be grown when there is a demand for fresh herbs, and in the summer Cyprus can grow chillies, aubergines and okra, which is not possible in northern climates.”

Alion also caters for niche markets such as ethnic minorities in Europe and supplies ingredients used in Asian food – Indian, Thai and Chinese – which needs fresh imported ingredients.

In winter they produce Methi which gives a curry flavour, as well as coriander with roots – where most of the nutrients are located – for Thai cuisine.

Then there are also new trends, such as growing micro herbs and edible flowers sold to gourmets. Kale is another product which caters for few people and is difficult to find, at least in Cyprus.

“You don’t create a big market with these things, but you can sell them for better prices,” the manager said.
Alion's squared-shaped aubergines

They also experiment all the time. One example is the square aubergines they grew for a special event which they then presented with great success at an exhibition. “Any crazy thing like that gets a good response.”

An obvious question for a company that prides itself on its green credentials is how does Alion justify its ‘carbon footprint’ by transporting herbs on planes to Europe within the same day they are ordered?

“We don’t use freight planes, but only passenger planes which fly anyway,” he said, “And it doesn’t matter much to the amount of fuel used if we add a ton of herbs or vegetables.”

In some cases too the supermarkets themselves impose limits. Lidl will not stock salads that have been flown in, but only ones transported by trucks. That means that though Alion is able to supply Lidl supermarkets in Cyprus, they don’t get to export them to the chain’s supermarkets in other countries.

Another environmental plus which Zavos is proud of is the company’s solar energy system on the factory roof which supplies 40 per cent of energy needs, and recently a highly efficient vacuum cooling system has been installed.

Then there is the issue of water, particularly as this water-reliant company doesn’t have a desalination system.

“We are religious people, we pray for rain,” he joked.

The truth is less spiritual and more mundane.

“We have diversified and secured the flow and supply in many areas,” he said. “In Paphos we get it from dams. Monagrouli is known for adequate water reservoirs and we use wells. In Kornos we have the approval to use Lefkara dam and in Dali wells near the river.”

Not only that, but there is also a covered production area which uses 75 per cent less water under shadow nets and in greenhouses where they also use dripping water. This method of water management is economical as the water goes directly to the plants’ roots. In addition, everything is planted in the most economic season, and the vegetables and herbs are all selected carefully.

So, with all this careful planning and operation, does the future look rosy for Alion? Zoros will allow no complacency.

“You don’t know what will happen, there is a lot of competition and you can be wiped out any moment.”

But until then, he and his team are steaming ahead with passion, soul – and hard work.