About us

Established in 1888, Karelia is Greece’s largest cigarette manufacturer & exporter.

Karelia meets the challenges of world markets with more than a century of experience and a reputation for fine quality and innovation. Today, our brands are exported to over 50 countries around the world.

A company with 130 years’ experience in creating exquisite blends of tobacco.

• Satisfying the tastes of the most discerning smokers
• Packaged and presented with style and elegance

Creating famous brands that have become part of the heritage of the tobacco industry, enhancing our status as creators of innovative and inspirational brands.

Our Company’s corporate ambition is to grow our presence in world markets, continuing to deliver unique brands of high quality.

Our commitment is to generate long-term value for our shareholders and employees, delivering positive financial results, year after year.

Business principles

The Karelia Tobacco Company is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical behaviour and our corporate principles embrace every aspect of our business; in particular our employees and our customers, and the community and environment in which we operate.

Our employees

We apply a policy of equal opportunity for all our employees, regardless of sex, creed, race or ethnic origin. Upon this platform of equal opportunity we have created a climate of openness and transparency and a commitment to developing, training and investing in the talents of all our employees.

Our customers

Our customers are, and will only ever be, adults who have already chosen to smoke. In particular, we carefully avoid in any way promoting our products to minors whom we fully accept must be protected from tobacco products and the marketing that promotes them.

Marketing

Karelia Tobacco Company takes its responsibilities extremely seriously when it comes to the increasingly sensitive subject of cigarette advertising and promotion – which we believe should only ever be there to encourage existing adult smokers to switch to our brands. We adhere rigorously to all the applicable laws, regulations and voluntary codes that govern tobacco advertising in each of the markets where our brands are sold.

The environment

Karelia invests, and will continue to invest, in manufacturing, production and distribution processes that include responsible environmental management principles and procedures, especially with regard to energy consumption and the production of waste.

The community

For many years Karelia has been pleased to provide support for organisations and events in our local community. Our many donations help to support schools, youth organisations, the disabled and art, music and other cultural activities.

Our employees Our customers Marketing The environment The community

1.670.440.000

Sales 2025 in Euros

140.287.000

EBITDA 2025 in Euros

571

Employees 2025

18.107.115.000

Sticks sold 2025

1.213.336

RYO Sales 2025 (kg)

1.670.440.000

Sales 2025 in Euros

140.287.000

EBITDA 2025 in Euros

571

Employees 2025

18.107.115.000

Sticks sold 2025

1.213.336

RYO Sales 2025 (kg)

Quality and innovation

From our very beginning it has been our mission to provide our customers with tobacco products of the highest quality.

This uncompromising dedication to excellence ensures every aspect of our production is subject to the most demanding standards of quality control and expertise.

Karelia’s world of tobacco demonstrates a commitment to quality from every point in the production process – from the sourcing of the finest tobacco leaf to package design and product presentation.

Our modern and flexible factory

A high quality manufacturing environment is essential for the successful production of high quality cigarettes. At Karelia, our continuous investment programme ensures that our modern, climate-controlled factory remains a state-of-the-art complex, producing blends, sizes and pack formats to the highest international standards. We are the world's first non-multinational company to employ the fastest available cigarette manufacturing and packing machinery, capable of producing 16,000 cigarettes per minute. Modern cigarette production has been transformed by scientific and technological innovation. Today, our manufacturing base in Kalamata enjoys the latest computerised equipment and high-tech instrumentation to quality control every stage of the production process. From leaf to finished cigarette, the state-of-the-art technology guarantees that we achieve the world-class standards that are essential to maintaining our position as a leading manufacturer serving a global market place.

Awards and distinctions

Karelia has gained a great number of distinctions and awards.

Karelia Wins Two Awards at the “Diamonds of the Greek Economy”

KARELIA is proud to announce it has been honored with two distinctions at the “Diamonds of the Greek Economy” Awards. Organized by the Greek financial newspaper “Naftemporiki.”

KARELIA honored once more with the prestigious “TRUE LEADERS” ICAP award

KARELIA has been honored once again with the prestigious “TRUE LEADERS 2024” distinction, as part of the annual awards organized by ICAP CRIF for the 14th consecutive year.

KARELIA is honored with HONORED WITH THE “THALIS O MILESIOS” AWARD

KARELIA has been honored with the business award “Thales o Milesios”, for being one of Greece’s leading companies with a presence of more than 100 years, and for contributing substantially to the development of the nation’s economy.

KARELIA one of Greece’s “Most Admired Companies”

Another important distinction was received by KARELIA from FORTUNE Magazine which ranked it again among the “MOST ADMIRED COMPANIES IN GREECE 2021”. The awards program, which has grown into an institution for Greek business since 2015 when it first began, highlights KARELIA’s consistently high scores for 7 consecutive years, among the companies distinguished for their presence in the industry.

4 Prestigious Awards at the Golden Business Champions of the Greek Economy

KARELIA has won four very important distinctions at the “Golden Business Champions of the Greek Economy” awards. More specifically, KARELIA won awards in the following categories:
• Growth and Investment
• International Exports
• Greek Business Champion of the Decade
• Solidarity Excellence Award

KARELIA named as TOP employer by young professionals in Greece

For another consecutive year KARELIA was named an EMPLOYER OF CHOICE, achieving a very honorable 7th place on the list of the Most Desired Employers in Greece. The distinction is the result of the annual “Career and Generation Y” survey conducted by kariera.gr for a number of years.

Karelia Wins EXPORTLEADERS Award

KARELIA was honored with the New Times EXPORT LEADERS AWARD 2021 at the “Export Leaders 2021” digital forum. The distinction was awarded to KARELIA, whose international sales have excelled for a number of years, as well as other Greek companies with noteworthy export performance.

Karelia recognized as ‘’True Leader’’ for 2019 by ICAP Group

Recognizing the leading position it holds in its industry, as well as its financial strength, KARELIA was awarded by ICAP Group for the 7th time, in the context of its annual “True Leaders 2019” awards.

KARELIA is proud to announce it has been honored with two distinctions at the “Diamonds of the Greek Economy” Awards. Organized by the Greek financial newspaper “Naftemporiki.”

KARELIA has been honored once again with the prestigious “TRUE LEADERS 2024” distinction, as part of the annual awards organized by ICAP CRIF for the 14th consecutive year.