Imagine a time when gyros were as foreign to American palates as sushi once was. Now, picture the aroma of sizzling meat on a vertical rotisserie, the tang of tzatziki, and the warm embrace of pita bread. This culinary revolution didn’t happen by chance—it was orchestrated by one man’s vision and an immigrant’s dream. As Grecian Delight/Kronos celebrates its golden anniversary, we’re reminded of how one company transformed the American food landscape, one gyro at a time.
In celebration of its rich Greek heritage and its pivotal role in popularizing Greek cuisine in America, Grecian Delight/Kronos recently held a series of events marking its 50th anniversary. The festivities kicked off with a special gathering at the company’s world headquarters in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, where employees, community leaders, friends, and family came together to honor five decades of culinary innovation and cultural bridge-building.
The celebration reached its peak at the Taste of Greektown festival in Chicago, where the company offered free gyros for 50 minutes—a gesture that drew not only hungry festival-goers but also Chicago’s Mayor and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. They joined company founder Peter Parthenis and his son, Pete Jr., who now serves as President and CEO, in commemorating this milestone.
Peter Parthenis’s journey from immigrant to food industry pioneer is a quintessential American success story. Hailing from Vonitsa, Greece, Parthenis didn’t just bring gyros to the masses; he made his product one of the most recognized Mediterranean food specialties in the USA. From the inception of the gyros machine to the introduction of countless Mediterranean offerings, Parthenis Sr. played a crucial role in driving the burgeoning consumer demand for Mediterranean foods in the US.
“My father founded this company with the vision of bringing families together around the Greek food he loved and grew up with,” said Pete Parthenis Jr. “That vision remains at the heart of our business today, and we wanted to express our gratitude to everyone who has contributed to turning my father’s dream into a reality.”
The company’s impact extends far beyond introducing Americans to the joys of gyros. Over the past 50 years, Grecian Delight/Kronos has been instrumental in shaping the Greek and Mediterranean food landscape in America. Today, it stands as a leading provider of authentic Greek and Mediterranean foods, including specialty meats, pitas, flatbreads, tzatziki, hummus, and a range of ready-to-eat and plant-based proteins.
As Grecian Delight/Kronos looks to the future, it remains committed to innovation while staying true to its roots. “We are incredibly proud of our heritage and deeply humbled by the fact that Grecian Delight/Kronos is now enjoyed by so many across the country,” Parthenis Jr. added.
From a small immigrant-owned business to a major player in the food industry, Grecian Delight/Kronos’s journey mirrors the evolution of American culinary tastes. As we raise our glasses—or perhaps our gyros—to their 50 years of success, we’re not just celebrating a company; we’re toasting to the rich tapestry of flavors that immigrants have brought to our shores, forever changing what it means to eat—and live—in America.