food-beverage

Food & Beverage

Kelemenis & Co. advises domestic and international producers, distributors and retail chains active in the food and beverage sector on a broad range of regulatory, commercial, IP and transactional matters. The firm assists from product clearance, labelling and distribution arrangements through to trademark and marketing matters and disputes within both Greek and EU regulatory frameworks. With a strong grasp of industry practices and market dynamics, the team supports clients in maintaining compliance while advancing commercially sound strategies. The firm’s experience includes advising leading international brands and prominent domestic producers.

The firm’s expertise includes:

Food & beverage regulatory compliance

  • Compliance with EU and national food law
  • Product labelling
  • Food safety and traceability obligations
  • Relations with competent authorities (e.g. EFET)

Signage, advertising and promotion of products

  • Check compliance of advertising claims
  • Marketing and digital promotion
  • Promotion of alcoholic beverages and special restrictions
  • Unfair competition issues

Consumer protection

  • Compliance with consumer law
  • General Terms and Conditions (B2C)

Intellectual property

  • Trademarks and branding
  • Product packaging and design
  • Dealing with Counterfeits and Violations

Corporate transactions & investments

  • Acquisitions and mergers in the food & beverage industry
  • Joint ventures and strategic partnerships
  • Due diligence of food companies

Business financing & development

  • Corporate finance
  • Investment structure and expansion of activities
  • Distribution and supply contracts

Labor law

  • Employment contracts and staff organisation
  • Health and Safety in Manufacturing Facilities
  • Compliance with labor laws

Insolvency & restructuring

  • Restructuring of companies in the sector
  • Management of crises and economic hardship
  • Bankruptcy and pre-bankruptcy proceedings

Representative Clients

Metaxa, Granarolo, Soya Mills S.A., Coca Cola, McCain, Bacardi, LDC, Upfield, DIA, De Sangosse, Valagro, Drakoulakis, Hellenic Brewery of Atalanti (ΕΖΑ), VP Brands, Aurarius Group, Cargill, The Tassos Group, Agrology, Cretan Olive Mill, Procaffè, Bristot Caffè, Avantis Estate Winery, Craft Brewery, General Ingredients S.A. Absolut Vodka, Haagen Dazs, LouX, Hatziyiannakis, Tyras-Olympos, Galaktokomiki S.A.

Representative Clients

Metaxa, Absolut Vodka, Cargill, Haagen Dazs, Coca Cola, McCain, Dia, Soya Mills, Loux, Hatziyiannakis, Tyras-Olympos, EZA Brewery, Galaktokomiki.

Chambers Europe 2013 says:

This firm is well reputed for its dispute resolution work. Highlights include … successfully representing the Greek brewery of Atalanti in a claim against Anheuser-Busch InBev relating to the termination of a distribution relationship.

Legal 500 2013 says:

Kelemenis & Co.’s strong regulatory practice recently advised Greek spirits maker, Metaxa, on EU laws regarding labelling and bottling… Clients include Absolut… and Cargill.

World Trademark Review 1000 2011 says:

The IP department of [Kelemenis & Co.] is an adjunct to its established commercial practice and has a rising profile in the Greek market… Its trademark clients include Metaxa.

Legal 500 2009 says:

Kelemenis & Co.– whose regulatory clients say it is “consistently good” – has been retained to advise Coca-Cola on Greek health and safety regulations as set out in domestic legislation aligned with EU law, work that included a review of EU rules related to beverages.

Legal 500 2008 says:

Recent work of the internationally oriented law firm – of which clients say “a particular strength is that they have a good knowledge of the entire south eastern European market” – includes advising the Greece-based Soya Mills Group on its first major investment in Bulgaria.

Practice Areas