The Tassos Group, LLC

The pursuit of the American dream is full of amazing stories, and Tassos F. Chronopoulos’ journey is captivating and based on honesty, perseverance, and ingenuity. The apex of his pursuit is his family-owned company, The Tassos Groups, LLC, which embodies all these key values, has resulted in top-quality, healthy Greek food products at accessible prices and cemented the company’s position as North America’s leading importer of Greek olives and olive oils. The company is known worldwide as simply Tassos.

Born in Athens at the beginning of World War II, Chronopoulos witnessed the liberation of Greece by the U.S. Marines, an event that instilled forever a deep respect and admiration for America. This led to his pursuit of higher education in the U.S. beginning in 1960. Receiving his mechanical and aerospace engineering degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, he embarked on a career path as a design engineer at G&W Electric Company, contributing to research and development (R&D) efforts in energy distribution systems.

Chronopoulos’ professional journey took on a major environmental project when he joined the United States Steel company. As a project engineer tasked with environmental protection initiatives, he played a crucial role in developing solutions to curb pollutants from the steel mill. Ensuring compliance with stringent environmental standards, Chronopoulos played a key role in the clean-up of Lake Michigan. This experience deepened his understanding of environmental responsibilities and laid the groundwork for his future endeavor, The Tassos Group.

In 1976, he took the leap and founded his own company, C.F. Tassos and Associates, a construction company offering modular construction innovations. From highrise hotels to townhomes and condominiums, the company’s enduring construction dots the urban landscapes of America.

Amid his professional pursuits, Chronopoulos remained deeply connected to his Greek heritage. A pivotal moment in his life came when his father came to the U.S. while battling a serious cancer. Chronopoulos took his father to see the ‘The Monument to Peace’ he had designed, built, and donated to the City of Palos Heights, IL.

Erected across the entrance from the Village Hall and surrounded by both the state and American flags, Chronopoulos built the monument to honor the five men who lost their lives attempting to free the employees of the U.S. embassy in Iran during President Carter’s era. It also lists the number of Americans who have died in every war, from the Civil War to the Vietnam War.

While viewing the monument together, his father asked his son, “What have you done for Greece?” At that point, he thought, “What can my father want me to do more than educate my kids?”

Following his father’s passing, Chronopoulos joined his family in Greece for the burial, and there, he finally found the answer to his father’s question. Olive trees surrounded the cemetery. Chronopoulos states that at that moment, “I became driven by a desire to preserve and share this heritage, and this was when I knew I had to share with the world Greece’s olive oil and olives, drawing upon ancient practices and traditions to create my products.”

In 1995, he created The Tassos Group and introduced his Greek olive oils, earning accolades from consumers and industry experts. His decision to enter the olive oil industry was driven by the recognition that the oil is part of the very fabric of Mediterranean life, offering profound medicinal benefits. At a time when the market was dominated by corn oil, most Americans had never tasted unadulterated, fresh, quality olive oil.

After two years of product development, the product was an instant success. He promptly received the Thumbs Up Award from the Chicago Tribune, was ranked #1 by the U.S. Consumer Report, and won numerous gold medals for his oils then and now.

Chronopoulos went on to launch three premium Extra Virgin Olive Oils and pioneered the stuffed and double-stuffed olives and the pitted Kalamata. The brand’s extra virgin olive oil also carries the seal of the American Heart Association^®.

His success is underpinned by the insistence on harvesting olives, whether for jarring or for oil, by hand. Even the olives are stuffed by hand. All olives are inspected for quality and size. From harvest to shelf, olives and olive oil proceed with the greatest regard, using only ancient processes everywhere possible, with little to no environmental impact. These measures guarantee the highest quality for its customers. This reflects Chronopoulos’ understanding that the terroir is vital to good food and that what we eat is crucial for health.

He believes there needs to be more discussion about the issue in both animal and human food production that results in critical changes. To provide the American consumer with the best products, the company does not use synthetic chemicals, additives, or artificial coloring—its goal is for all to taste the natural fruit.

Central to The Tassos Group’s success is its commitment to authenticity and tradition. The company uses only products from approved designated origins recognized for their quality by both the European and U.S. governments. The Protective Designation of Origin (PDO) seal guarantees authenticity and origin and legally protects against imitation or inferior quality. PDO provides consumers with a greater appreciation for regional and specialty foods.

The company raised the bar when it introduced the first extra virgin olive oil bearing both PDO and organic certifications. Taste and the quality of the antioxidants and polyphenols are exceptional. It is considered a high-phenol, antioxidant oil with a high smoke point, making it ideal for all types of cooking.

Tassos offers a variety of products, including olives stuffed with almonds or garlic, double-stuffed with garlic and jalapeno, pitted Kalamata olives, and olive bruschetta. The company designed and introduced these to the global marketplace.

His commitment to sustainability extends beyond product quality, encompassing ethical business practices. Focusing on organic farming and ecofriendly practices, the company ensures its products meet the highest quality standards and contribute to a healthier planet. For instance, its sundried tomatoes are genuinely dried in the sun, and it avoids using mechanical equipment for harvesting or stuffing olives to minimize air pollution. The company also recycles the water used to produce the products to water the trees, flush the toilets, etc.

The company also uses solar energy to power its facilities, reinforcing its dedication to sustainability. Operating in the traditional way without modern agricultural equipment, The Tassos Group, LLC educates its workforce and, through them, their families and friends about the importance of protecting the planet. By avoiding environmental pollution, the company wants to curtail any role it would have in heating the planet, resulting in extreme weather conditions.

As the first major importer to comply with the USDA Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule, the company leads by example in promoting transparency and integrity in the organic food industry.

Obtaining organic certification requires considerable time and effort, and maintaining compliance with organic practices is only one aspect of the process. To even begin organic farming, the land must demonstrate a documented absence of pesticides or unauthorized substances for a minimum of three years.

The company does not spray its olive groves or farms with chemicals to protect the trees and fruit. Instead, the company wires the perimeter of the groves and farmland to produce sounds that deter birds and fruit flies, avoiding chemical sprinklers that pollute the environment.

Both the Tassos Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil offerings originate from groves that have held USDA organic certification for over three decades. Presently, the company is also certified by the National Organic Program in the U.S.

Chronopoulos is equally supported by his three children in his endeavor. His daughter Anne Marie is the company’s general manager, while his son Michael Chronopoulos is the COO. Anne Marie earned her master’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan, and Michael received his in neuropsychology from Loyola University in Chicago. His eldest son, Foti Chronopoulos, obtained his medical degree from the University of Illinois. He practices obstetrics and gynecology in Chicago. Wanting to keep the family close, Chronopoulos encouraged Anne Marie and Michael to join the company, creating a strong family bond within the business.

With a new generation, the company thrives, shaping the future of Greek food production in North America. Chronopoulos’ journey embodies the timeless values of hard work, integrity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. To this day, he continues to show his admiration for America by serving as a Board member of the Panhellenic Scholarship Foundation and participating in numerous disabled veterans and American Indian organizations.

Continuing to push boundaries and inspire, the company is illuminating culinary tradition in the contemporary era, casting its influence far and wide.