[...] This book which records major parts of the history of our company, is the result of more than a year΄s work. It presents the financial climate in which MINERVA S.A. was established and developed, and it pays homage to the founders and shareholders, the employees, the managers and the consumers who supported and trusted the company for so many years. The Board of Directors and I, personally, would like to express our warmest thanks to all who contributed to this effort: the historians who undertook the difficult task of collecting and evaluating historical documents, the editors and all the institutions and individuals who lent us their valuable archival and photographic material. Giorgos Kostianis, managing director.