Melissa Orzo (Kritharaki)

Melissa holds a prestigious position as Greece's leading pasta brand, with a history dating back to its founding in 1947 by Alexandros Kikizas in Athens. The product shown is Orzo, known locally as Kritharaki, which is a staple of Greek Mediterranean cuisine. It is crafted using 100% Greek durum wheat semolina, emphasizing a commitment to local agriculture and traditional quality.

The brand is owned and managed by Melissa Kikizas S.A., a major Greek food company that remains under the control of the founding Kikizas family. While it dominates the Greek market, the company has expanded its reach internationally, exporting products to over 45 countries. The manufacturing is centralized in Larissa, Greece, where one of the largest and most technologically advanced vertical pasta production plants in Europe is located, integrated with a private semolina mill.