Between Thuringia and Greece: Young founders launch delicatessen start-up KOKKINO
A life between two worlds
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Maria (34) and Philipp Handwerker (33) from Niederorschel in Eichsfeld have been living between two countries since this year. Maria and Philipp Handwerker have divided their lives between northern Greece and Thuringia - in Piges near Drama they run a small pomegranate farm with around 180 trees, in Niederorschel (Eichsfeld) they run their young company KOKKINO, through which they bring their products to Germany. For them, the farm is more than just a project - it stands for the courage to try something new and go their own way. "We wanted to build something that was honest and felt right," says Philipp. "We were both familiar with classic office life - deadlines, routine, fixed processes," says Philipp. "With KOKKINO, we've created something that complements us - work that doesn't just happen in the office, but in the middle of life."
A life between two worlds
Since this year, Maria and Philipp have been running their farm in Greece - with everything that entails. "When you stand among the trees in the morning and the sun rises, you realize why you're doing this," says Philipp. "It's exhausting, but in a good way. You can see directly what your work achieves - that gives you a lot in return." The pomegranates are harvested by hand and processed directly on site - into a 100% cold-pressed direct juice, natural and without additives. "When you pick the fruit yourself and later hold the bottles in your hands, you understand how much work and patience goes into a product like this," says Maria. In addition to the juice, KOKKINO also sells olive oil, sea salt, mountain tea and spices - products from small, family-run businesses from all over Greece. "We know everyone personally," explains Philipp. "These are people who produce great food with passion, craftsmanship and tradition - but who find it difficult to gain visibility in today's world. We want to bring their honest products to Germany and give them a chance."
Between nature, responsibility and everyday life
"Anyone traveling in Greece quickly sees how many dogs and cats live there without care," says Maria. "You can't just look the other way. We provide local support wherever possible - with food, neutering or veterinary help. For us, this is part of respecting nature and the place where we live." Maria and Philipp originally come from commercial professions. In addition to their professional activities in Germany, they are building KOKKINO together - with everything that goes with it: office work, shipping, communication, forwarding, harvesting. "It's a life between two worlds," says Philipp. "But that's exactly our path. We see how much is possible when you just get started."
Gift ideas with meaning
In the run-up to Christmas, Maria and Philipp put together gift boxes with Greek specialties - as loving gifts for family and friends as well as sustainable employee or customer gifts for companies. The boxes are packed by hand in Niederorschel and contain delicatessen products that come directly from the producers. "Each box tells a story - not about us, but about the people behind it," says Philipp.
Pop-up store in Mühlhausen
Anyone who would like to get to know KOKKINO in person will have the opportunity to do so from November 10, 2025: Maria and Philipp will be on site at the pop-up store in Mühlhausen (Steinweg 3) until the end of January 2026. There they will be selling their products - including items from the current pomegranate harvest - and telling their story between Thuringia and Greece.
Tree sponsorships - proximity despite distance
With their tree sponsorships, they want to give people the opportunity to make agriculture tangible again. Sponsors symbolically take over a pomegranate tree and receive part of the harvest every year - juice, fresh fruit and personal updates from Greece. "Many people want to know where their food comes from and how it is produced," explains Maria. "Our sponsorships create precisely this connection - honestly, transparently and at eye level." About KOKKINO KOKKINO is a young German-Greek delicatessen start-up founded in 2025 by Maria and Philipp Handwerker. The couple live in Niederorschel (northern Thuringia) and have been running a pomegranate farm in Piges near Drama (northern Greece) since this year. KOKKINO stands for honest products, transparent origins and a story about courage, change and responsibility - with a heart for nature, people and animals.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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