From Bicycle Trips to Gourmet Delights: The “Gero Stalo” Story

A small business in Lithuania is celebrating a decade of growth, evolving from a niche retailer of dairy products to a purveyor of gourmet foods and gift baskets shipped across Europe and beyond.

“Gero stalo,” which translates to “Good Table,” began as a simple idea sparked during a bicycle trip, according to founders Marius and Kristina. The couple, working odd jobs at the time, found themselves brainstorming business ventures during their annual cycling excursions.

“When your head rests from the routine, there’s room for conversation, thoughts, and dreams,” Marius recalled. They had experience in negotiations, sales, and project management, but lacked experience in retail.

“We realized that there would always be risks in business, options from A to Z, and a constant search for solutions. But that didn’t scare us – it attracted us,” Kristina said.

The opportunity came unexpectedly during a visit with a college friend, Jūratė, who mentioned the opening of a branded “Vilkyškių pieninės” dairy store in Tauragė. “We had just read an article about plans to expand this model. I found the contacts, called – and got straight through to the managing director, Vaidotas, and later met with the sales manager, Alvydas. That’s how it all started,” Marius said with a smile.

The founders chose Alytus as their base, a natural fit given Kristina’s roots in Talokiai and Marius’s in Šventežeris. “It’s a place we feel connected to, where everything is closer and more understandable,” they explained.

Starting small, with limited capital, they relied on local connections. Their first store manager was a relative, and much of the initial team comprised friends. “That’s how we thought about it, and that’s how we started,” Kristina said with a laugh.

Over the past ten years, “Gero stalo” has undergone significant changes. Initially, the store’s inventory consisted almost entirely of products from their dairy partner. However, they quickly realized that a single-brand store wasn’t meeting customer demand.

The business gradually expanded its offerings to include a wider range of gourmet products, becoming one of the first stores in Alytus to offer homemade-style milkshakes in the summer. This expansion necessitated a rebranding effort, led by Ernesta and Kęstas. “That was one of the best decisions. We are truly grateful – they gave us direction, a new face, and energy,” Kristina said.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to adapt quickly. “Our e-commerce began with… ‘Google’ Forms,” Marius joked. Customers would mark their desired products on a form, and the team would assemble the orders for pickup. Early deliveries in the city were even made by taxi, before the widespread availability of platforms like Bolt and Wolt.

Today, the company’s online store, www.gerostalo.lt, offers a wide selection of gourmet products and gifts, with delivery available throughout Lithuania.

During the holiday season, the company’s gift sets are popular not only in Lithuania but also internationally, becoming a tradition for many businesses seeking unique and high-quality gifts for partners and employees. “Gero stalo” is currently accepting reservations for Christmas gift baskets and offers a catalog of options.

The team is the company’s greatest strength, according to Kristina. “Although our team is small, their contribution is enormous. They care, offer ideas, and grow with us. That feeling of not being alone is priceless,” she said.

Strong relationships with other businesses, suppliers, and producers are also key to their success. Many of their suppliers are family-owned businesses with histories dating back to 1878.

“We confidently present their products to our customers – they create a genuine product, uncompromising quality. Several of the brands we sell have been continuing family businesses in their field for generations,” they said.

The journey hasn’t been without its challenges. “Today, some of our youthful ideas, which seemed brilliant to us at the time, are amusing,” Marius said. One early promotional campaign involved distributing 500-1,000 flyers with coupons for a cheese curd snack throughout the Alytus region. “We distributed them, hoping people would not only learn about the store but also visit and buy something from the assortment, taste it, and return. Only about five people came, and one of them had flyers from a neighbor. It was a disappointment then, but now it’s a sweetly naive story we tell with a smile.”

More serious challenges included a prolonged road repair project on the main street in front of their store. “We remember that time very well: one Saturday morning we arrived at the store and saw that the road in front of us had been dug up about half a meter deep, across the entire width of the road, right up to the steps of our store entrance. We sat in the car and wondered what to do. I remember calling the then-mayor of Alytus, Grigaravičius, and the vice-mayor, Tamulionis, as well as the project manager of the contractor. I just asked them to let us know on which days or weeks the road would be completely closed so we could plan how much dairy products to order that week – they have a relatively short shelf life. We realized there would be no magic wand – the only way was constant communication and trying to adapt,” the owners said.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented perhaps the most difficult period for the business. “Uncertainty was huge. But it was during that time that we felt the greatest focus – the team, suppliers, the landlord, everyone seemed to unite to survive that unusual time. You realize that in business, it’s not just about sales, but about the people who stand beside you when you don’t know what will happen next week, next month,” Kristina said.

Kristina added that the store today is distinctly different from larger retailers. “We always come back to the same thought – we want to be a place where people discover good, real, delicious food. As our name suggests, we have everything that creates a good table: from everyday quality to special flavors for small rituals or beautiful celebrations. We want to awaken people’s curiosity – so that when they come in, they not only find what they already like but also discover something new that will delight and enrich their world of taste.”

“Flavor harmony is very important in our store. We have a wide selection of cheeses, olives, and spreads, and with them – carefully selected accompaniments that are good to taste together. We care that a person, buying not only one product but a combination of them, feels how they complement each other: whether it’s cheese with jam, crackers with a spread, or olives with a light aperitif. We strive not only to offer products but also to help discover new combinations – those that create that cozy ‘mmm, how delicious’ moment on the table,” she explained, adding that a large part of the production comes from family businesses all over Europe.

“From these carefully selected products, we assemble gourmet gifts for store visitors, business customers, and people ordering online. We deliver gifts throughout Lithuania. We always think not only about aesthetics but also about taste: that the crackers go with the spread, that the cheese pairs with the jam, and that the olives find their companion among drinks or other delicacies. It is important to us that the person opening the gift feels that it was put together with thought, with respect for the product, and with a sincere desire to please,” Marius said.

Looking ahead, the company plans to review its assortment again, increase the share of directly imported products, and develop a new e-commerce project. They are also preparing for the spring and summer seasons.

“The only goal is to improve as a business, to improve as a team. We want to offer what will be interesting to customers, what will inspire, and perhaps discover new areas where we can at least feel like pioneers at the beginning,” Marius said.

He added, in a distinctly Lithuanian way: “Support us – we work from the heart.”