Investment & Fund Management

In the case of Cretan Diet Plus, an online company based in Belgium that specializes in importing and selling high-quality Greek food products, the founder Konstantinos Kalpadakis faced significant challenges in securing financing to maintain his business operations. After previously experiencing setbacks in his telecommunications venture due to economic crises, Konstantinos sought to establish a new business that catered to the demand for authentic Greek products among the Greek community in Brussels. However, when he approached banks for a loan to support his new venture, he was met with refusals.

Recognizing the potential in the market, Konstantinos turned to MicroStart, a microcredit company and an EIF financial intermediary under the European Progress Microfinance Facility (EPMF). With a loan of EUR 25,000 from MicroStart, he was able to expand the delivery of Cretan Diet Plus products beyond Belgium, reaching customers in Luxembourg and the Netherlands. This financial support not only helped him maintain his stock but also facilitated the growth of his customer base, which now exceeds 350 online customers.

The success of Cretan Diet Plus has allowed Konstantinos to plan further developments, including the opening of physical shops in the BeNeLux countries. The tailored solution provided by MicroStart was crucial in enabling Konstantinos to continue building his business and share the Mediterranean diet with a diverse international community.