About us
Our Core Values
Quality
Service
High Hygiene Standards
Quality
Service
High Hygiene Standards
At Despina, oue goal is one:
"To be present during your sweetest moments"
About us
Since 1975 we have been devoted to creating fine desserts that delight the senses and bring joy to every occasion.
For nearly five decades, we have held fast to our three core values - quality, service, and hygiene - ensuring every treat is nothing short of exceptional. We are committed to using only the finest ingredients and providing a level of service that keeps our customers coming back for more. With over half a century of expertise in desserts, Despina is a dominant player in the market of high-end pastry-making and confectionery in Greece.
Our signature dessert, the legendary millefeuille, has become a symbol of Despina’s dedication to fine craftsmanship. Made fresh upon request, this delicate dessert features layers of rich, velvety cream, crunchy pâte feuilletée, and roasted almonds. The result is a heavenly creation, which is made on the spot, customizable to your taste. Few can rival the perfection of our millefeuille - a must-try for any dessert lover.
Despina offers a wide range of Greek traditional and European desserts, thereby blending the local cuisine with European culinary trends. Whether you are looking for Greek traditional desserts or high-end French pastries, you are sure to find them in one of our stores.
About us
Since 1975 we have been devoted to creating fine desserts that delight the senses and bring joy to every occasion.
For nearly five decades, we have held fast to our three core values - quality, service, and hygiene - ensuring every treat is nothing short of exceptional. We are committed to using only the finest ingredients and providing a level of service that keeps our customers coming back for more. With over half a century of expertise in desserts, Despina is a dominant player in the market of high-end pastry-making and confectionery in Greece.
Our signature dessert, the legendary millefeuille, has become a symbol of Despina’s dedication to fine craftsmanship. Made fresh upon request, this delicate dessert features layers of rich, velvety cream, crunchy pâte feuilletée, and roasted almonds. The result is a heavenly creation, which is made on the spot, customizable to your taste. Few can rival the perfection of our millefeuille - a must-try for any dessert lover.
Despina offers a wide range of Greek traditional and European desserts, thereby blending the local cuisine with European culinary trends. Whether you are looking for Greek traditional desserts or high-end French pastries, you are sure to find them in one of our stores.
Our Founder
Despina Roulia (neé Theodorakopoulou) was born in 1943 in Patra and raised in Athens. She developed an entrepreneurial spirit early in her life as after school she managed one of her father's furniture exhibitions near the Supreme Court of Justice in Athens.
Despina wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and build a career on furniture trading, however at only 19 years old she married Nikolaos Roulias, founder of one of the biggest biscuit manufacturing units of Greece. In the beginning of the 1960s, she and her husband moved to Africa where they continued their career in the same industry, but also started experimenting with confectionary and pastry making. Despina's innate adoration for cooking and baking allowed her to experiment and master many French recipes of high end confectionery that she later launched in her stores in Congo.
After 15 years of hard work in Africa, Despina and her family moved back to Greece and opened their first store under her name in Nea Erythrea in 1987. Therefore, Despina became one of the first female entrepreneurs and businesswomen in Greece. Her products and their prices were unprecedented in the Greek market. However, her persistence in pristine quality, natural raw ingredients, excellent customer service, high standards of hygiene in her store and atelier, along with her charming personality made Despina a sensation. Soon, all Athenians would rush to her store to try her famous creations. After a few years, the company grew larger and opened stores in the most commercial areas of Athens.
Today, Despina continues to persist in the triptych that made the brand a customer favourite: quality, service, cleanliness. To this day, she denies using any raw ingredients or selling any products that a housewife would not put in her house. Despina has instilled the same principles and values to her children and grandchildren that manage the company today.
Our Founder
Despina Roulia (neé Theodorakopoulou) was born in 1943 in Patra and raised in Athens. She developed an entrepreneurial spirit early in her life as after school she managed one of her father's furniture exhibitions near the Supreme Court of Justice in Athens.
Despina wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and build a career on furniture trading, however at only 19 years old she married Nikolaos Roulias, founder of one of the biggest biscuit manufacturing units of Greece. In the beginning of the 1960s, she and her husband emigrated to Africa where they continued their career in the same industry, but also started experimenting with confectionary and pastry making. Despina's innate adoration for cooking and baking allowed her to experiment and master many French recipes of high end confectionery that she later sold in her stores in Congo.
After 15 years of hard work in Africa, Despina and her family moved back to Greece and opened their first store under her name in Nea Erythrea in 1987. Therefore, Despina became one of the first female entrepreneurs and businesswomen in Greece. Her products and their prices were unprecedented in the Greek market. However, her persistence in pristine quality, natural raw ingredients, excellent customer service, high standards of hygiene in her store and atelier, along with her charming personality made Despina a sensation and soon, all Athenians would rush to her store to try her creations. After a few years, the company became larger and opened stores in the most commercial areas of Athens.
Today, Despina continues to persist in the triptych that made the brand a customer favourite: quality, service, cleanliness. To this day, she denies using any raw ingredients or selling any products that a housewife would not put in her house. Despina has instilled the same principles and values to her children and grandchildren that manage the company today.
Our History
Our sweet story begins in the 1950s, when Despina's husband, Nikolaos Roulias, opened the "Roulias" biscuit factory with his siblings.
Despina and Nikolas Roulias move to the Congo, where they continue their career in confectionery and biscuit making. In one of the retail bakeries, Despina opens the first pop up shop selling haute confiserie products, including the famous millefeuille. Despina found pleasure in pastry making, so much so that she often traveled to Belgium, France and Switzerland to learn new techniques and bring new pastry ideas.
"Despina's corner" or "Coin de Despina" was so successful that she decided to open the first store under her name in Kinshasa.
In April 1987, Despina opens the first store in Nea Erythrea, an up-and-coming commercial area near Kifissia and Ekali. She had brought with her the head pastry chef of one of the best pastry shops in Belgium to help her with the new products, which were unknown in the Greek market until then. Her team consisted of high-end confectioners from Belgium, France and Greece. Despina's dedication to high quality, pure raw materials, professional service, high hygiene standards and new ideas, made Despina a huge success. By 1989, Despina had become a famous pastry shop and all Athenians flocked to Nea Erythraia every Sunday to try its famous sweets.
The second Despina store opens in Psychiko.
In 1996, Despina opens the third and fourth stores, in Kolonaki and Glyfada respectively.
Despina started to provide catering services, thus expanding their work to food as well. Despina was no longer just a patisserie, but a major player in the food industry, with a commitment to innovation and high quality.
The growing demand allowed Despina to reach 12 stores in the most commercial areas of Athens. In 2010, the Despina group employed 150 employees.
We are celebrating 50 years of making your life sweeter. Our goal is to be present during your happiest moments, through our products.