Kosterina

Kosterina operates as a wellness brand anchored in the Mediterranean lifestyle, with its core product being high-antioxidant extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). The company was founded by Katerina (Katina) Mountanos. The brand name itself, Kosterina, is a blend of the founder's name, Katerina, and her husband's name, Kostas, which originated as their wedding hashtag.

The inspiration for Kosterina stemmed from Mountanos's personal experience and heritage. Growing up in a Greek-American family, she spent summers in her family's native village of Koroni, Greece, the origin of the Koroneiki olive. She found that the EVOO available in U.S. supermarkets lacked the taste and quality of the oil she was accustomed to in Greece. This observation, coupled with her professional background, fueled her mission. Mountanos is a serial entrepreneur with an MBA from Harvard Business School and extensive experience in consumer brands, including roles at L'Oreal, Quidsi (BeautyBar.com), and Jet.com. She also co-founded Manicube, a VC-backed startup that was later acquired by Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas. While at Walmart leading a brand incubation team, she noticed a gap in the market for a premium, authentic Greek EVOO, which led to the creation of Kosterina as a side hustle in 2016. She left her corporate job in late 2019 to focus on the venture full-time, officially launching in 2020.

Kosterina's business model is centered on a direct-to-consumer (DTC) approach through its website, while also employing an omni-channel strategy with a significant retail presence. The company's products are available in major national retailers like Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Crate & Barrel. Revenue is generated through the sale of its products across these channels, with a reported annual revenue reaching $1.8M as of July 2025. The company has successfully raised capital to fuel its growth, securing a total of $5 million through multiple funding rounds.

The brand's flagship product is its Original Extra Virgin Olive Oil, made from 100% early-harvest Koroneiki olives sourced from southern Greece. A key differentiator is the high polyphenol content, which are naturally occurring antioxidants. Kosterina's EVOO has a polyphenol level of over 470 mg/kg, substantially higher than the 55 mg/kg minimum required for an 'extra virgin' designation. This focus on high-polyphenol, early-harvest oil is intended to maximize both health benefits and the oil's characteristic peppery flavor. Expanding beyond olive oil, Kosterina has diversified its product line to embody the broader Mediterranean wellness lifestyle. This includes balsamic vinegars, dark chocolate bars infused with EVOO, baked goods, and a skincare line launched in November 2021. The skincare products, such as the Extra Virgin Hydrating Face Oil, utilize the same antioxidant-rich EVOO as their hero ingredient.

Keywords: extra virgin olive oil, Mediterranean diet, wellness brand, Katerina Mountanos, Greek olive oil, high-polyphenol EVOO, direct-to-consumer, omni-channel retail, specialty foods, clean beauty, Koroneiki olives, functional foods, healthy lifestyle products, olive oil skincare, gourmet foods, food and beverage, CPG, natural ingredients, antioxidant-rich, premium food brand