Yalco

HISTORY

The company's founder Mr. Socrates Constantinou began trading in housewares in 1920 in the city of Drama. In 1933 he settled in Thessaloniki and established a personal business with activities the trading of houseware products. SOCRATES D. CONSTANTINOU Ltd. was established in 1968 and began trading under the name "YALCO" with life of 5 years. The company became a Societe Anonyme (S.A.) in 1972 following the merger of the personal and Limited companies under the distinctive title "YALCO", which was registered as the Company's trademark. The life of the business was set at 99 years until 2071 having its headquarters in the Kalohori County in Thessaloniki. The Company operates under this form until today. In 1974 the company started to expand its activities in Southern Greece and established a sales office and a showroom in Athens. Since then with its impressive expansion of sales in Southern Greece it has become the main distribution company and supplier of all major units of the housewares market. In 1989 it relocated to an area of 23,000 square meters in New Kifissia (on the Highway of Athens-Lamia), becoming the first company in the sector having complete facilities (offices, showroom, warehouses) in Northern Greece (Thessaloniki), as well as in Southern Greece (Athens). The period between 1989 - 1995 is characterized by major investments in the development of its logistics systems and administrative re-organization. As a result, YALCO now has the biggest logistics and show room facilities in its field with:

Open areas of 108,000m2

Storage Areas 24,000m2

Exhibition centre and offices 4,000m2

Industry Areas 7,000m2

Total Capacity 35,000 pallets (=2,400 Containers)

In 1995 YALCO was listed on the Athens Stock Exchange (November 1995). The period between 1996-2000 the Company broadened its activities in other sectors:

To the professional equipment sector with the complete acquisition of the KORMOS S.A. and KORMOS DISTRIBUTION S.A. (professional equipment products).

To the retail market with the acquisition-participation in OMNISHOP S.A. - Chain of retail shops.

To the sector of logistics services with the establishment of ROTA LOGISTICS CENTER S.A.

To the air conditioners sector with its participation in the Share Capital of EXCEL S.A.

The year 2001 constitutes another important year for the growth of the Company, since the absorption of the major competitor up to that date, VELLIFEST S.A. was decided. With this absorption the Company's presence is strengthened in its main activity and it enters into the production of Non-Stick Cookware for home or professional use, which are distributed in the local market and exported to the Balkan and European countries.

Nowadays, the Company has an important participation in the wholesale of home and professional equipment, it has entered the retail sector in house and gifts equipment and makes its presence noticeable in warehousing services and in general in integrated logistics services, while finally, it is active in the air conditioners sector by representing HAIER.