Papoutsanis
Papoutsanis is a 150-year-old Greek publicly-listed manufacturer of soap and liquid cosmetics, producing over 100 million products annually across branded consumer products, hotel amenities for international chains, private label manufacturing for multinational retailers, and specialty soap bases for industrial buyers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1870
- HeadquartersLamía, Greece
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Papoutsanis does
Papoutsanis S.A. is a Greek publicly-listed manufacturer of soap and liquid cosmetics, founded in 1870 and headquartered in Lamía, Greece, with its main production facility in Ritsona, Evia — described as the largest integrated soap and cosmetics production unit in the Balkans and one of the most modern in Europe. The company operates four distinct business segments: (1) branded consumer products including the heritage Karavaki aromatic soap (since 1950), Natura hand antiseptics, Aromatics, Olive Soap, Glycerine Soap, and Arkadi sold through retail channels; (2) hotel amenities featuring 14 collections including Olivia Thinks, Le Jardin Med, Olive Care, and Skin Essentials supplied to international hotel chains and hospitality businesses; (3) contract manufacturing and private label production for large multinational retailers and suppliers; and (4) specialty soap bases (soap noodles) for industrial customers. The company produces over 100 million products annually and exports to more than 25 countries across Europe, America, Asia, and Oceania, with international sales representing over 40% of total revenue.
The business model combines differentiated revenue streams: branded consumer products are distributed through traditional retail channels, hotel amenities are sold through direct B2B relationships with international hotel chains and the company's e-commerce platform, and private label manufacturing operates as a contract/transaction-based service for multinational retailers. Pricing is quote-based with B2B pricing requiring registration, and the e-shop accepts VISA, Mastercard, PayPal, MyBank, and Eurobank installments. The company maintains a deep certification portfolio (ISO 9001, ISO 22716 GMP, RSPO, Vegan, EcoCert, SEDEX, AEO) that functions as a procurement gate for institutional buyers. Listed on the Athens Stock Exchange since 1972 (ticker: PAP:GA) with 101-250 employees, Papoutsanis reported FY 2025 net profit of EUR 6.2 million (up 18% YoY) and secured EBRD funding of approximately $12.7 million in December 2022 to support its expansion strategy.
Papoutsanis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Papoutsanis
- Legal name
- PAPOUTSANIS S.A.
- Website
- https://papoutsanis.gr
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1870
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Papoutsanis is a 150-year-old Greek publicly-listed manufacturer of soap and liquid cosmetics, producing over 100 million products annually across branded consumer products, hotel amenities for international chains, private label manufacturing for multinational retailers, and specialty soap bases for industrial buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Papoutsanis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Soap & Cosmetics Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing (325611), Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (32562), Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (3256)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Personal Fragrances (Perfume, Cologne, Body Sprays) (CRADANAD)
Keywords
Where Papoutsanis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lamía
- HQ country
- Greece
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Papoutsanis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Branded Consumer Products: Revenue from own branded products including KARAVAKI, Natura, Aromatics, and selective distribution products like OLIVIA sold through retail channels
- Hotel Amenities: Hotel amenities (shampoo, shower gel, soap, body lotion) sold to international hotel chains and hospitality businesses
- Third-Party and Private Label Manufacturing: Contract manufacturing and private label production for large multinational suppliers and retailers
- Specialty Soap Bases: Specialized soap noodles for industrial clientele
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional/B2B pricing through e-commerce platform |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels2 records
Papoutsanis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Papoutsanis manufactures and sells soap and liquid cosmetics under four business lines: branded consumer products (Karavaki, Natura, Aromatics, Olive Soap, Glycerine Soap, Arkadi), hotel amenity collections supplied to international hotel chains and hospitality businesses, contract manufacturing and private label production for multinational retailers, and specialty soap bases (soap noodles) for industrial clients. Production is concentrated at the company's vertically integrated plant in Ritsona, Evia, producing over 100 million products annually for sale in Greece and 25+ export markets.
Product overview
Papoutsanis is a Greek manufacturer with 150 years of heritage, producing over 100 million products annually from its largest integrated production unit in the Balkans. The company operates four business segments: (1) Branded Consumer Products including Karavaki, Natura, Aromatics, Olive Soap, Glycerine Soap, and Arkadi brands sold to retail consumers; (2) Hotel Amenities featuring 14 collections including Olivia Thinks, Olivia, Le Jardin Med, Olive Care, Skin Essentials, Sarbacane, and specialty lines like For Kids and Natura Antiseptic, serving international hotel chains and hospitality businesses; (3) Contract Manufacturing and Private Label services producing custom products for major international suppliers and retailers; and (4) Specialty Soap Bases for industrial customers. The product portfolio centers on personal care products including soaps, shampoos, body lotions, antiseptics, and accessories, with strong emphasis on Mediterranean ingredients like olive oil and Greek botanical extracts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Karavaki: Aromatic soap brand launched in the 1950s, known for its timeless success.
- Natura
- Aromatics
- Olive Soap
- Glycerine Soap
- Arkadi
- Olivia
- Olivia Thinks
- Le Jardin Med
- Olive Care
- Skin Essentials
- Sarbacane
- Good to Declare
- Skin to Soul
- For Kids
Products and services
- Karavaki Aromatic soap brand launched in the early 1950s, representing the iconic olive-oil based soap tradition of Papoutsanis and sold to retail consumers.
- Natura Personal care brand including antiseptic hand sanitizers approved by the National Organization for Medicines (EOF) with 80% v/v ethyl alcohol composition per WHO standards, sold to retail consumers.
- Aromatics Aromatic soap product line offering scented soaps for retail consumer use.
- Olive Soap (Green Olive Soap) Traditional olive oil green soap, the original product that started Papoutsanis in 1870 on Lesvos island, sold to retail consumers.
- Glycerine Soap Glycerin soap line first produced in the early 1970s at the Kifissia plant and sold to retail consumers.
- Arkadi Branded consumer soap product line sold through retail channels.
- Olivia Thinks (Hotel Amenities) Premium hotel amenity line featuring organic olive oil extracts combined with vegetable keratin and panthenol; 96% natural ingredients with vegan formula, free from parabens and SLES, supplied to hotel and hospitality buyers.
- Olivia (Hotel Amenities) Selective distribution hotel amenity collection including body lotions, hand washes, and conditioning shampoos supplied to hospitality buyers.
- Le Jardin Med (Hotel Amenities) Luxury Mediterranean-inspired hotel amenities featuring orange blossom, rose petals, and mandarin scents with organic Greek saffron, sage, and grape extracts; vegan formulas with eco-friendly recycled packaging supplied to hotel buyers.
- Olive Care (Hotel Amenities) Hotel amenity line featuring olive oil-based formulations supplied for guest care products in hospitality settings.
- Skin Essentials (Hotel Amenities) Basic skincare hotel amenities for hospitality properties.
- Sarbacane (Hotel Amenities) Hotel amenity brand including shower gels and personal care products featuring eco-friendly packaging innovation.
- Good to Declare (Hotel Amenities) Hotel amenities product line supplied to hospitality buyers.
- Skin to Soul (Hotel Amenities) Hotel amenities product line focused on wellness and personal care for hospitality settings.
- For Kids (Hotel Amenities) Children's hotel amenities including gentle shampoos and shower gels formulated for young guests in hospitality properties.
- Accessories & Slippers (Hotel Amenities) Hospitality accessories including slippers and other guest comfort items supplied to hotel and hospitality buyers.
- Dispensers & Refills (Hotel Amenities) Professional dispensers and refill products for hotel bathrooms and high-volume hospitality use.
- Room Fragrances (Hotel Amenities) Room fragrance products supplied for hospitality settings.
- Natura Antiseptic (Hotel Amenities) Hand antiseptic products including spray and gel formulations with 80% v/v ethyl alcohol, approved by EOF and effective against 99.9% of viruses and bacteria including COVID-19, supplied to hotel and hospitality buyers.
- Smart Pack (Hotel Amenities) Innovative packaging solution for hotel amenities supplied to hospitality buyers.
- Contract Manufacturing (Third-Party & Private Label) Third-party manufacturing and private label production services for international suppliers and large multinational retailers, producing custom branded personal care products.
- Specialty Soap Bases Specialized soap noodles and customized soap base formulations for various industrial applications, supplied to industrial clientele for further processing.
Companies that use Papoutsanis
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Papoutsanis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature1 record
Papoutsanis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Eurobank EquitiesminorFinancial analysis coverage with regular research reports published on Papoutsanis SA including updates and initiation reports.
- International Hotel ChainscoreCollaborations with international hotel chains for supply of hotel amenities. The company holds a leading position in the Greek hotel amenities market through these partnerships.
- Multinational Hotel-Supply IndustriescorePartnerships with the biggest multinational hotel-supply industries for personal care products and amenities.
- Large Multinational RetailerscoreThird-party manufacturing and private label production for large international suppliers and retailers.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Papoutsanis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sarantis: Athens-listed Greek consumer products company with personal care, cosmetics, and household goods portfolios. Closest direct peer as a Greek CPG manufacturer operating in overlapping personal care and household categories.
Broad incumbents
- Procter & Gamble: Global personal care and household products manufacturer (Ivory, Safeguard, Olay). Competes in the same soap and personal care categories and is a major buyer of private label manufacturing services.
- Reckitt Benckiser: Global consumer health and hygiene company with strong soap and disinfectant portfolios (Dettol, Durex, Finish). Comparable in hygiene-focused product manufacturing and global B2B distribution.
- Beiersdorf: German personal care company known for Nivea and Eucerin. Operates in the skin care and personal care categories where Papoutsanis competes, particularly in hotel amenities and Mediterranean-inspired products.
- Henkel: Global leader in laundry, home care, and cosmetics (including Dial and Fa soap brands). Comparable in personal care and cleaning product manufacturing with significantly broader scale and geographic reach.
- Unilever: Global FMCG giant with leading soap and personal care brands (Dove, Lux, Dove Men+Care). Operates in the same branded soap and personal care categories as Papoutsanis but on a global, multi-brand scale.
- Laboratoires Pierre Fabre (Avène, Klorane): French dermo-cosmetic and personal care company with natural ingredient focus (Avène, Klorane). Comparable in Mediterranean/EU personal care customer base and natural ingredient positioning.
Regional players
- Elgeka: Greek wholesale distribution company for fast-moving consumer goods. Comparable as a Greek-headquartered distribution partner handling personal care and household products, addressing overlapping customer segments.
- Cussons (PZ Cussons): UK-listed personal care and home care manufacturer with Imperial Leather and Original Source brands. Comparable in branded soap manufacturing with a focus on European and emerging markets similar to Papoutsanis' geographic footprint.
Others
- Albéa: Global leader in beauty and personal care packaging. Comparable as an ecosystem participant supplying packaging solutions to the same hotel amenities and personal care manufacturers that Papoutsanis serves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Papoutsanis social profiles
Digital presencePapoutsanis compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Papoutsanis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Papoutsanis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Papoutsanis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Papoutsanis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Papoutsanis
What does Papoutsanis do?
Papoutsanis manufactures and sells soap and liquid cosmetics under four business lines: branded consumer products (Karavaki, Natura, Aromatics, Olive Soap, Glycerine Soap, Arkadi), hotel amenity collections supplied to international hotel chains and hospitality businesses, contract manufacturing and private label production for multinational retailers, and specialty soap bases (soap noodles) for industrial clients. Production is concentrated at the company's vertically integrated plant in Ritsona, Evia, producing over 100 million products annually for sale in Greece and 25+ export markets.
Is Papoutsanis a public or private company?
Papoutsanis is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Papoutsanis founded?
Papoutsanis was founded in 1870. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Papoutsanis based?
Papoutsanis is headquartered in Lamía, Greece, in the Europe region.
How does Papoutsanis make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Branded Consumer Products are the primary driver. The others are hotel Amenities, third-Party and Private Label Manufacturing and specialty Soap Bases.
Who are Papoutsanis's main competitors?
Sarantis is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, Beiersdorf, Henkel, Unilever and Laboratoires Pierre Fabre (Avène, Klorane). Regional players are Elgeka and Cussons (PZ Cussons). Albéa is listed as an others.
Does Papoutsanis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Papoutsanis.
What industry is Papoutsanis in?
Papoutsanis's product category is Soap & Cosmetics Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADANAD, Personal Fragrances (Perfume, Cologne, Body Sprays). Its NAICS code is 325611 and its SIC code is 2844.