Greek gourmet foods contain exquisite flavors that delight the taste buds. Many people don't even realize the plethora of fresh tastes. As a shop owner or manager, you have the power to bring those delights to the masses.

Greek specialty food stores can carry hundreds of items. Among the most popular are baklava, olive oil, Greek chocolates, feta cheese, goat cheese, gyro meat and sauce, souvlaki and stuffed grape leaves. Traditional and modern innovative Greek foods will make an impression on customers, bringing your business to the forefront of the industry.

1. Research Greek specialty stores and distributors before ordering your products and goods.

2. Use displays in Greek specialty food stores to attract customers.

3. Plan beyond Greek gourmet foods and purchase specialty products, too.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know the difference between Greek gourmet foods and where they come from

Greek specialty stores are not created equal. Look for a company with deep roots in preparing or importing Greek foods. Do business with a supplier that imports, distributes, and then sells high quality goods.

I recommend: Buy Greek specialty foods from Hellas International at World Pantry.com. It's an American company with roots in Greece, which specializes in olives, olive oil, spreads, vinegars and tapenades. Buy food in singles or multi-packs. Iavarone Bros. have specialized in importing old world delicacies for more than 80 years, including olive oil from Greece.

Think outside the box when stocking Greek specialty foods in your shop

Greek specialty foods run the gamut from olive oil to Kalamata olives, feta cheese and Baklava. Stock your Greek specialty food store with the classics that people expect to find and some surprises. There are more than 2,000 to choose from by various importers.

I recommend: Prima Foods has a Greek specialty foods section. Order supplies for your shop by downloading the catalog and calling the toll-free number. Yiayia Foods sells cases of Greek food, works with distributors throughout the country and offers bulk discounts.

Display Greek specialty foods to catch a customer's eye

Greek specialty and gourmet foods should stand out in your shop, whether you have a Greek foods store or a grocery store with a small section dedicated to imports. Give your customers the feeling of being in Greece by decorating and displaying the goods just like they do in Greece. Also consider printing gourmet Greek recipes and displaying the recipe cards next to certain food items.

I recommend: Use Greek-recipe.com and Mosaic Media's Eat Greek Tonight listing as your sources for gourmet Greek recipes. Search alphabetically or by category. Print off recipes and give them to customers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If room permits, use your shoppe to host gourmet Greek food cooking classes. This will drum up business.