Story of Kosterina: Offers Food, Wellness, Beauty Products Featuring Premium Olive oil, sold at retailers like Whole Foods and Crate & Barrel
Story of Kosterina:
Founder's Roots
Kosterina was founded by Katina Mountanos, whose Greek
heritage and upbringing in Koroni, a small town in southern Greece, shaped her
appreciation for high-quality olive oil. Growing up between New York and
Greece, she experienced the rich flavors of traditional olive oil, which became
the inspiration for her brand.
Inspiration Behind Kosterina
As an adult in the U.S., Mountanos noticed that supermarket
olive oils lacked the taste and quality she remembered from Greece. Frustrated
with the limited options, she embarked on a mission to create a lifestyle brand
centered around premium olive oil and Mediterranean wellness.
Starting Small
Kosterina began as a passion project while Mountanos
maintained her full-time job. She launched the first product, a white original
extra virgin olive oil, to a small circle of family and friends through a
Squarespace website, which later grew organically as more people discovered the
brand.
Olive Oil Expertise
Mountanos took an olive oil sommelier course to deepen her
knowledge. She learned that early harvest extra virgin olive oil preserves
natural antioxidants, which have proven health benefits, including reducing the
risk of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Quality Matters
She discovered that much of the olive oil sold in U.S.
stores is of low quality, often past its prime or improperly packaged.
Kosterina ensures its oils are fresh, early harvest, and carefully bottled to
maintain both taste and health benefits.
Story of Kosterina: Offers Food, Wellness, Beauty Products Featuring Premium Olive oil, sold at retailers like Whole Foods and Crate & Barrel
Passion as Strength
Mountanos emphasizes that her personal connection to the
product is a strength. Combining her love for Greek culture, culinary arts, and
wellness, she built Kosterina around authenticity and quality, making her
deeply invested in the brand’s mission.
Lessons from Experience
Before Kosterina, Mountanos co-founded Manicube, a health
and beauty services company sold to Elizabeth Arden in just three years. This
experience taught her about building teams, managing operations, and scaling a
business, which informed her approach to Kosterina.
Pivot to Product-Based Business
After the operational challenges of Manicube, Mountanos
wanted her next venture to focus on a product rather than services. Olive oil
became the natural choice, allowing her to combine her passion with a scalable,
tangible product offering.
Expansion and Offerings
Kosterina has since expanded beyond olive oil, offering
vinegars, dark chocolate bars, baked goods, and skincare products—all centered
around high-antioxidant extra virgin olive oil. The brand emphasizes wellness,
flavor, and the Mediterranean lifestyle.
Market Presence and Vision
Now available at retailers like Whole Foods, Crate &
Barrel, and Food52, Kosterina continues to grow while educating customers on
the health and culinary benefits of premium olive oil. The brand represents
Mountanos’ vision of combining taste, health, and authenticity in every
product.
Timeline of Kosterina
- Early
Life – Katina Mountanos grows up in Koroni, Greece, and New York,
learning to appreciate high-quality olive oil.
- 2010s
– Mountanos works at Walmart through Jet.com and explores the
direct-to-consumer product space.
- Founding
– Kosterina is launched as a passion project, starting with a single SKU
sold to family and friends.
- Early
Growth – Organic expansion as new customers discover the brand;
Mountanos deepens her olive oil expertise through a sommelier course.
- Product
Expansion – Introduction of balsamic vinegars, chocolate bars, baked
goods, and skincare products.
- Retail
Presence – Products become available at Whole Foods, Crate &
Barrel, Food52, and Kosterina.com.
- Ongoing
Vision – The brand focuses on high-antioxidant extra virgin olive oil
and Mediterranean lifestyle, emphasizing wellness, taste, and
authenticity.
