It keeps Cyprus moving

Chr.Kapodistrias and Sons Ltd has been running strong for more than half a decade. The company was founded in 1969 as Chr.Kapodistrias Ltd, by Christoforos Kapodistrias.

It rose in prominence over the past few decades, becoming the largest importer and spare parts supplier in Cyprus.

The company also supplies the market with tires, car batteries, lubricant oils, tools and crew equipment.

Early days

It all began in Nicosia, back in 1969, when late Christoforos Kapodistrias, working at P.M Tseriotis Ltd, a company that imported Volkswagen cars, decided it was time to go after his vision; start his own business and secure a better future for his family, shortly after the birth of his first born, Constandinos. His second son, Marios, was born a few years later.

So he established Chr.Kapodistrias Ltd, which initially imported Volkswagen spare parts. It wasn’t long however before the company reached agreements with car industry giants that produced original equipment for the biggest factories in the world.

The work ethic, organisational skills and business acumen of founder Christoforos Kapodistrias led the company to great strides, very fast, soon taking a leading position-particularly in the aftermarket sector- across the free areas of Cyprus following the Turkish invasion.

Solid foundations

Christoforos Kapodistrias built the company on solid foundations, further strengthened by the involvement of both his sons Constandinos and Marios in all aspects of its operation since the late 1990s.

Such a strong background meant that it was able to stay firmly on its feet when its founder and CEO passed away in 2013, in the midst of a financial crisis, but also move on from difficult times into further growth and market establishment, expanding in the fields of tires, engine lubricants and professional equipment.

Landmarks

The company moved to a new larger workshop in the Pallouriotissa area in 1977, along with its Larnaca expansion, marking a new era of development, which culminated with a presence in Limassol and Paphos over the next decade.

In the mid-90s the company moved its headquarters for the third time in Kaimakli, where it remains to this day, both in terms of workshop and administration offices. During the same time it also expanded to Paralimni, which meant island wide coverage with five shops. Lakatamia and Alambra workshops opened in the next few years, along with a Robert Bosch Technical and Training Centre and a Lubricants and Tools Centre, both in Pallouriotissa.

Landmark year

2011 stands out for Kapodistrias and Sons Ltd, as the company secured the representation of Robert Bosch GmbH products, while that same year it also became an equal member and shareholder of TEMOT International, the largest consortium of companies in aftermarket.

In 2012, the company went into the tire business, importing Sailun, a Chinese brand of tires. It was the first to introduce reliable internationally recognised tires from the massive Chinese market. Οriginal fitment tires Hankook, Goodyear and Dunlop followed in the next few year, while Laufenn and Kelly was soon added to these brands, making Kapodistrias the largest tire importer in Cyprus.

 

Against the odds of the financial crisis running rampant in 2013, Kapodistrias organised the first international corporate exhibition, ‘THE AUTOFIX SHOW’ which soon became established as an event and is now held every two years with more than 50 exhibitors from abroad.

Lubricants market

2014 saw the agreement on the distribution of technologically advanced lubricants Castrol, as the company entered the lubricants market. This was gradually established in the next few years with the distribution of the Valvoline and Rektol products.

The company opened a Technical Equipment department in 2011, specialising in providing crews with heavy duty equipment. Already having this background, it reached a deal with KS Tools in 2015, introducing Kapodistrias to the professional tools sector.

And right there, the company came full circle in the car maintenance business. It is now in a position to provide whatever a car needs to safely keep moving and all the equipment a professional requires to work.

In 2018, Kapodistrias was declared ‘Business of the Year’ by the acclaimed IN BUSINESS magazine.

It duly celebrated half a century of life in 2019, as one of the fastest growing Cypriot business, with 280 employees and a fleet of 135 vehicles.

More than half a century of innovation, progress and quest

In 1969, Christoforos Kapodistrias shunned the certainty of a paid job and took a lifetime decision; opening his own business. He established a company and began importing spare parts.

It wasn’t long before he became an exclusive representative of top makers in Cyprus, including industries producing original equipment.

Chr.Kapodistrias and Sons Ltd developed into the country’s no one company in importing and supplying spare parts, in addition to importing tires, batteries, lubricants, tools and maintenance crew equipment.

Following the sudden death of Christoforos Kapodistrias in 2013, his children Constandinos and Marios took over, keeping to their father’s footsteps in values and principles.

Business Ethos, Honesty, Humility and Respect captured the personality of Christoforos.

‘We’re a business that carries on the path marked by its founder, with a client centered approach’ says Constandinos Kapodistrias, who shares the management of Chr.Kapodistrias & Sons Ltd.

He spoke to us about his father, the company’s history, today’s realities and the future.

What’s the experience of heading a business with more than half a century of history?

I have the same age as the company. It was founded 52 years ago, mere months after I was born! My father used to say that walking from the maternity clinic to our home, a few days after my birth, he was thinking that he had enough of being an employee and wanted to build his own business, as the family’s needs got increasingly greater. As leaders of the company, along with my brother Marios we share a feeling of responsibility towards the previous generation, as well as our successors.

Despite the size of the company and its significant market position, we remain a family business and we go beyond numbers and profits. Our priority is to safeguard the values and principles handed down by our father, the founder of the company, Christoforos Kapodistrias.

History, present realities and future

What does all this the history bring to the fore, how does it help you?

We carry forward the business ethos, honesty, respect and humility of Christoforos Kapodistrias. And most of all, the client-centered character of the company. That’s what makes up Kapodistrias and will continue to do so, as long as my brother and I are at the wheel. Innovation, progress and that on-going quest for new products and services, coupled with technological advancement, is what the company always carries.

What determined the Group’s DNA?

Undoubtedly, Christoforos Kapodistrias and the values I have just mentioned. These are virtues that distinguished our father, first and foremost as a human being and then a businessperson, in addition to his respect for the client. What we always tell our staff in carrying forward our business mentality is the motto that ‘the client honours the company by asking for our service’. Wage and prospects equality is also non-negotiable. That is equal pay for equal work and equal opportunities for advancement, irrespective of nationality, sex or religion.

Landmarks

What are the most significant moments in this long standing course?

The first one would be March 3^rd 1969, when our first shop opened in Pallouriotissa. The deals secured during the early years following our establishment, were the ones that really determined the course of the business for decades, as KAPODISTRIAS SPARE PARTS succeeded in representing factories that produced original equipment for some of the biggest car industries in the world.

KOLBENSCHMIDT for example, that made K.S Pistons used by Mercedes while also supplying Volkswagen, Porsche and Ford with original equipment. Other brands soon followed, such as TEXTAR, BOGE and ELRING, massive German factories at the time.

1995 was also a landmark year as we moved to our own modern facilities, housing our central store and management offices to this very day. Our Famagusta store opened in 1996 and that was yet another major development, as the company was now represented in all districts of government-controlled Cyprus.

2011 was a major step forward for KAPODISTRIAS as it became an equal member and shareholder in TEMOT International, the biggest international coalition of companies in the automotive aftermarket.

That same year, Chr.Kapodistrias & Sons Ltd secured the Robert Bosch GmbH representation and worked together to create a Technical and Training Centre in Pallouriotissa.

2014 was a very special business moment when we secured the deal to distribute products by Castrol, the top company in making, distributing and trading in high tech performance car lubricants and greases. That’s the deal that put KAPODISTRIAS in the lubricant sector. Of equal importance was the 2018 agreement with Goodyear, the top tire market with a 120 year history. This was a deal that underlined the leading KAPODISTRIAS role in the tire sector.

The same year we received the ‘Business of the Year’ Award by IN BUSINESS magazine, while 2019 saw a grand 50 year anniversary celebration.

2014 was a very special business moment when we secured the deal to distribute products by Castrol, the top company in making, distributing and trading in high tech performance car lubricants and greases. That’s the deal that put KAPODISTRIAS in the lubricant sector. Of equal importance was the 2018 agreement with Goodyear, the top tire market with a 120 year history. This was a deal that underlined the leading KAPODISTRIAS role in the tire sector.

The same year we received the ‘Business of the Year’ Award by IN BUSINESS magazine, while 2019 saw a grand 50 year anniversary celebration.

Α sudden loss

A memorable story or incident?

2013. In the midst of that unprecedented banking crisis, came the sudden loss of our founder and CEO, my father. You can imagine the weight of responsibility that fell on our shoulders at the time. Beyond a natural psychological load from the death of our father, we had to steer the company through a massive recession. Those were tough times. But I am really proud that we rose to the occasion and came out of that crisis without a single redundancy, or a reduction in personnel salaries.

What does Corporate Social Responsibility mean to you and how does it translate into specific social action?

It is a highly sensitive issue for the company and we implement a series of actions, most of which we keep away from the limelight. Our philosophy is not just making noise, but actually making a difference. This is what corporate social responsibility means to us, and that is the way we feel about it. And I am not just referring to helping vulnerable social groups, but also respect to the environment and concern over road safety.

The future

We’re facing new challenges today. Before Cyprus even recovered from the financial crisis, covid 19 landed another blow. What’s your take on things?

We’re dealing with a tough situation that’s not just about a drop in annual turnover in 2020, while will continue this year, but a number of other repercussions. Such as lack of staff, a rise in product and transport prices, as well as slower deliveries. This whole framework of realities has resulted in higher prices for spare parts to the tune of 10 to 15%, some of which will be paid by the consumer.

And how about the post-pandemic situation?

The fundamental question is when the pandemic will be over. We’re two years and counting following the outbreak of this global health crisis and obviously no one can safely predict when we’ll be rid of it. Things might have improved in comparison with the tragic situation in early 2020 and we might have returned to some sort of normality, but as thousands are fighting for their lives, any financial predictions could only be secondary. We’re moving into 2022 with major restrictions, so we’re not really optimistic about profits returning to 2019 levels.

We would be happy to see that happening in 2023. It’s a question of when conditions are completely normalised and deliveries are on time. The price increases will be with us for quite some time. On the up side, certain hygiene and protection measures will become permanent features and that can only do good, while more technology in our daily lives and business transactions, are also a pandemic positive.

TIMELESS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

The company remains client dedicated, a priority policy, irrespective of any success and development over time. The Kapodistrias motto is the Robert Bosch philosophy,

‘I’d rather lose money than my credibility’.

We are the most trustworthy associate for a clientele of more than 1500 professionals in the car maintenance sector.

Guided by humility, integrity, honesty, respect and the work ethic handed down to the business managers by late Christoforos Kapodistrias, the company continues on an expansion and evolution course.

But whatever the way ahead maybe, it will never abandon the characteristics of a family business, cherishing the roots of the company.

We’re more than profits, finances and numbers. A family business is all about a sense of responsibility towards every generation, past and future.

The top priority is to forge an attractive working environment, with equal pay for equal work and the same advancement opportunities, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or religious beliefs.

Competitive advantages

Credibility, quality, professional and speed of service constitute the Kapodistrias competitive advantages.

They are in a position to provide quality spare parts and perishables to the market across the free areas of Cyprus in a timely fashion, at the best possible price.

‘We keep Cyprus moving’, is the slogan that the company brings into action.

Car maintenance is not as easy as it was decades ago, a professional no longer has the time to work on a car as he previously did.

Demands have changed and in most cases, whether it’s a business or an individual client, they want their scheduled service to be completed in a single day, while car repairs can no longer take more than a few days.

Car maintenance is now more demanding, as modern cutting edge technology cars require additional knowledge in terms of mechanics, as well as technical equipment.

Kapodistrias caters to all these changes and new needs, providing the latest technology equipment to all its associates, as well as investing in their education and training.

The company is evolving in all its processes, becoming more flexible in its day to day operations, so crews can have all they need on the same day, with quality spare parts.

Kapodistrias moves towards the future of car maintenance and strives towards more automated processes that will bring the successful client service rate right up to 95%.

The company’s new central warehouses in Nicosia have become the nucleus of its operations.