Cypriot Hospitality
I was invited by Stavros to attend Protopapas Food Station’s 40th Anniversary Party in Ayia Napa. Naturally I accepted, and what a fantastic event it was. Two BBQ chefs using the speciality egg shaped Top Kamado BBQ,s cooked Stavros’ frozen New Zealand lamb ribs and Iberico pork fillet on one and on the other, ‘frozen on the boat’ Calamari and South African King Prawns and Moroccan octopus, which I have to say were of the best I’ve ever tasted, whilst a burger van grilled their Angus Beef burgers and a bar served drinks, and Politia Radio provided the live link and the music, and just about every restaurateur in the area must have visited.
4 Decades
So I grabbed the chance to catch up with Stavros to find out a bit more … Over a delicious coffee, I asked Stavros how it all started? Stavros explained; “my father ‘Protopapas’ opened a little supermarket in Ayias Mavris Street back in 1981 adding a cold store and butchers and started to supply many hotels and restaurants”. By 1991 Stavros’ father’s reputation to provide quality products and to satisfy their clients was exemplary and he moved into their new bigger premises with almost 200 pallet storage space for frozen foods.
Family Business
As Stavros grew up, he of course helped in the family business much as his university studies were Hotel Management, followed by working for the famous Italian Restaurant Napa Rivulet, he decided to continue working with his dad. Taking over the family business in 2,000 and it wasn’t long before Stavros needed to create a new Wearhouse premises in Frenaros with a capacity of 1000 pallets frozen food storage for processed meat.
Commercial
These days, they’re commercially deliver to over 300 selected top hotels, cafe’s, restaurants and snack bars, all over Ammochostos and now all the way to Larnaca with hundreds of different items and I was let into a little secret that plans are well ahead on increasing their selection, dramatically.
Wholesale Prices
In 2019, they improved the showroom so that their clients can visit and they could expand their retail side of the business, at wholesale prices. Here you’ll find an extensive selection of frozen and processed foods and their condiments and much as it’s very slightly off the beaten track, let me assure you its worth a visit.
Surprised
On my first visit I was very pleasantly surprised, a big car park, modern building, nice signage, inside it was spotless, a huge U-Shaped layout of freezers the first to the left the game selection, pheasant, quail, wild rabbit, hare, partridge, pigeon, but very unusual, crocodile fillet and grass fed venison frenched rib racks and venison fillet, straight away I knew this was going to be my kind of place!
Veggies
Next, a variety of frozen vegetables from Belgium and Poland, Fruits from several EU countries and surprisingly, a vegan section proving the fashion is growing with some lovey snacks too including onion rings, spring rolls, samosas, French fries and skin on wedges!
Meat Lovers
For the carnivores; Pork joints, huge pork chops and whole pork fillet tenderloins, one must have been all of 3 kilos … next it was unusual to find New Zealand Lamb, rib racks, leg, kebabs and joints …
It’s Beef
One of my favourites, the selection of beef, everything from Irish Tomahawk Steaks, to the dry aged beef, whole fillet joints taking my eye, the Rib-eye steak I have to say is highly recommended! and the Black Angus Beef burgers are to die for!
Birds
A variety of Poultry was brilliant, duck and goose from Holland, corn fed chicken, whole and in pieces, wings, kebabs and coujons, flash fried and ready to cook … Turkey breast & whole Turkey, coming soon for Christmas, oh and chicken liver and duck breast pâté, to mention but a few.
Variety
There’s even whole Gyro, up to 80Kg in chicken, pork, lamb and beef Gyro, on the skewer and ready to go on the spit roast … they also stock Bacon, Salami, Italian Pizza, Pasta, Tortellini and Ravioli
Seafood
The seafood section was impeccable, various catches, local and imported fish, things like New Zealand Snapper, Cod from USA, Tuna from Vietnam, Sea Bass, Scottish Salmon, whole and in fish fillet pieces, New Zealand mussels, South African squid, octopus from Morocco, sea frozen shrimp, prawns, crab and cooked Canadian lobster and even Sushi, fish fingers and fish kebabs, and again surprisingly, Trout from Cyprus!
Compliments
Above all the fridges there’s an endless selection of, herbs, spices, condiments, marinades, rice, sauces, mustards, flours, granules, gravy and compliments, oh and cooking oils from the UK and coming back soon after popular demand, good old British Pies and Sausages …
Loyalty
This food store is highly recommended, not just for its variety of speciality foods but for its wholesale prices, friendly service and commercial delivery service, with their own Loyalty Card with 5% Off for regular visitors and like me I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised on your first visit, which probably won’t be your last! … Check out their Products List here.
Open All Year
Daily: 8.30 am ’til 6 pm
Sunday: Closed
Directions
You’ll find them at 21, Filinas Road, Ayia Napa, come off the motorway at the Ayia Napa Junction, turn left away from Napa and left again … or just click on the Google Map Icon Below … or give them a call for a personal visit.
GPS: 34.992620, 33.953830
More …
