Baltimore is buzzing with excitement as the Baltimore Business Journal announces its "40 Under 40" honorees for 2025, celebrating the region's most impactful young leaders. Among this distinguished group is Dimitri Komninos, president and CEO of Dimitri Olive Oil, whose entrepreneurial spirit and dedication have brought a taste of his family's rich Greek heritage to American tables.
For over two centuries, the Dimitri Giannakos / Komninos family has cultivated olive trees on the sun-drenched foothills of Mt. Taygetos in Greece, just 20 km south of Sparta. These idyllic conditions yield a special harvest of extra virgin olive oil, renowned for its fruity, robust flavor and prominent peppery finish. Dimitri Komninos, born and raised in Athens, brought this incredible legacy to the United States at the age of 11. He deeply missed the fresh, pure olive oil that was a staple of his childhood, sourced from his grandmother's village of Krokees.
Right after high school, Dimitri joined his stepfather (Giannakos) in the family business, immersing himself in the ancient art of olive picking and oil production in Greece. His vision, however, extended beyond traditional farming. Dimitri dreamed of expanding the business internationally, and that dream led him to the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore.
"Growing a century-old family business requires a lot of business knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit—all of which I experienced in the Merrick School of Business," Komninos shared. He transferred from a local community college, driven by the ambition to scale his family's 60-acre olive tree farm and introduce their exceptional unfiltered extra virgin olive oil to the U.S. market.
In 2014, Komninos's vision materialized with the opening of DEVOO, a brick-and-mortar store.
"When we launched our U.S.-based company, we were doing everything possible to seize opportunities to grow the company," he explained. "I was able to take what I learned in the classroom to run my business more efficiently and help it grow. The entire UBalt experience has helped me be the entrepreneur I am today."
His journey from the olive groves of Greece to a successful American entrepreneur is a testament to his unwavering dedication and the practical application of his international business education. As he continues to expand the product line and manage wholesale accounts nationwide, Komninos embodies the spirit of innovation and leadership that the BBJ's "40 Under 40" award celebrates.
Find Dimintri Olive Oil products at their Timonium, Md store, at area farmer markets, or online.
Congratulations to Dimitri on this well-deserved recognition!
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