Located at 129 Markou Botsari Street in Thessaloniki’s Toumba district, Tsotyli Grocery Store is a family business with a story spanning generations. Behind its name lie 76 years of experience, three generations of family tradition and a deep connection with the place where it all began.

The story dates back to 1950, when the family opened its original butcher’s shop in Tsotyli, Kozani. Daily contact with meat, traditional recipes and the needs of local households built up a wealth of knowledge that was passed down from one generation to the next. In 2016, the family decided to bring this experience to Thessaloniki, opening Tsotyli Grocery Store.

The new venture continued the same philosophy: quality, authenticity, carefully selected products and respect for everything that finds its way onto the family table. From Tsotyli to Thessaloniki, the family tradition found a new home while remaining firmly connected to its roots.

The Greece of Small Producers, All Under One Roof

At the heart of Tsotyli Grocery Store is a passion for showcasing the best of Greek produce. Its shelves are filled with products from small family businesses, women’s cooperatives, agricultural cooperatives and independent producers from Tsotyli, Macedonia and every corner of Greece.

It is a carefully curated selection that celebrates the diversity and character of Greek food production. From pulses and pasta to cheeses, cured meats, sweets and traditional spreads, each product has its own story to tell — of people, places and recipes handed down through generations.

Finding authentic flavours is an everyday pursuit. The family selects products they would be happy to serve on their own table, looking not only for quality and provenance, but also for that distinctive character that makes a product truly special.

Macedonian Cheeses and Cured Meats

Traditional Greek cheeses are among the highlights at Tsotyli Grocery Store. Batzos, graviera, xinotyri, kasseri and many other distinctive varieties from different parts of Greece offer plenty of choice for cheese lovers looking for authentic flavours and character.

A particular highlight is Voio Graviera, a cheese closely linked to the family’s place of origin. Made from a blend of goat’s and sheep’s milk at a modern dairy facility on the road between Tsotyli and Neapoli, it maintains a strong connection with the gastronomic heritage of the region.

The family’s butcher-shop heritage is also reflected in the impressive selection of cured meats. Pastourmas, kavourmas, ready-to-cook frozen patsas from a small Tsotyli producer, traditional Karamanlidika cured meats, village-style sausages and sausages made with leek and beef are just some of the options available.

Special mention should be made of the family’s own village-style sausages and kavourmas. These traditional products are still prepared at the family butcher’s shop in Tsotyli, which continues to operate as a third-generation business under the name NISIS.

Pulses, Pasta and Everyday Greek Essentials

Greek cuisine has its own timeless staples, and Tsotyli Grocery Store brings many of them together in one place. Pulses from Tsotyli and Kastoria, including the famous giant beans of Kastoria, are ideal for hearty, nutritious home cooking.

The pasta selection includes traditional varieties such as petoura and trachanas, alongside more creative options such as trachanas flavoured with Kozani saffron and mushrooms, and malfandines with Florina pepper from a small family producer in Siatista. These products combine traditional know-how with creativity, bringing new inspiration to everyday cooking.

The shelves also feature sauces, chutneys, spreads, honey, jams, rusks, spices and a selection of healthy-food products. Ready-made sauces, including tomato sauce with cinnamon and bay leaf, lemon sauce with thyme and mustard, and a hunter-style sauce with mushrooms and red wine, offer an easy way to create a delicious meal at home.

Among the more distinctive choices are homemade dolmadakia from small-scale producers, different varieties of Greek honey and traditional Greek yoghurt, completing a selection centred on flavour and local production.

From Florina Pies to Epirus Loukoumi

The Tsotyli experience goes well beyond everyday cooking ingredients. More than 25 varieties of handmade traditional pies from Florina offer a delicious introduction to the flavours of Macedonia, while ready-made frozen piroshki from a small producer in Kilkis are another convenient option — simply heat them for two to three minutes.

The sweet selection takes you on a journey across Greece. Among the highlights are Giannena-style loukoumi by Velogiannis, available in flavours including rose, bergamot, almond and grape must. With a history dating back to 1905, these traditional sweets are a wonderful choice for anyone looking to discover the flavours of Epirus.

The store also stocks Farsala halva, Nentim karyokes from Komotini and soutzoukos loukoumi, an exclusive Thessaloniki selection. The range is complemented by pralines with no added sugar, chocolates and hot chocolate drinks in creative flavours, including a festive melomakarono-inspired version.

For special occasions, there are also more than 25 varieties of spoon sweets from Chios. From chestnut to bergamot, each jar offers a little taste of Greece and a delicious journey to another place.

Greek Wines, Tsipouro and Flavours to Take You Further

No Greek grocery experience would be complete without a selection of drinks. Tsotyli Grocery Store offers a wide range of local wines, tsipouro and liqueurs, with choices to complement a family meal or add something special to a festive occasion.

Among the selection are chestnut liqueur and traditional krano liqueur from Gouzda Estate in Lagorachi, Pieria.

The store’s wide range of sweets, chocolates and breakfast products also makes it a destination for anyone who enjoys discovering new flavours or looking for something special to serve with an afternoon coffee. Even traditional patsas has its place here, available as a ready-cooked frozen option that takes just five minutes to heat.

The Online Shop

The love of Greek produce extends beyond the store itself. Tsotyli Grocery Store also has an online shop, allowing the flavours and products of this family-run business to reach every corner of Greece and beyond.

The business has also built a strong presence on social media. With more than 22,500 followers on Facebook and over 10,000 on TikTok, as well as an active presence on Instagram and Threads, the store regularly shares new arrivals, products and recommendations, creating a lively community around Greek food and gastronomy.

From the family’s original butcher’s shop in Tsotyli, Kozani, in 1950 to today’s Tsotyli Grocery Store in Toumba, Thessaloniki, the family journey continues with the same values and an eye on the future.

Here, Greek producers, small-scale makers and traditional flavours come together in a place where quality goes hand in hand with a genuine love of everything authentic — and, above all, delicious.