The businesses that stood out for their growth, investments, extroversion, and financial performance took center stage for the 11th consecutive year at Greece’s premier business recognition ceremony. The companies driving the country’s development, creating value, investing, innovating, and strengthening the international presence of the Greek economy were honored for the 11th year by the “Protagonists of the Greek Economy” institution.
This year’s Award Ceremony, organized by Direction Business Network at Domus-Asteria Glyfada, brought together 450 senior and top-level business executives, representatives of the state and institutional leadership, as well as members of the academic community.
The awards presented were based on official financial data from the companies, as reflected in their financial reports and detailed in the new, 13th edition of “The Powerhouses of the Greek Economy” by Direction Business Network, which has just been released.
The “Excellence Award for International Business Extroversion,” a new distinction introduced this year, was presented to the Chairman of the Antenna Group, Thodoris Kyriakou. The award recognizes business personalities who, through their strategy, vision, and international activities, strengthen the presence of Greek entrepreneurship beyond borders and create strong growth prospects on a global scale.
The Turnaround Business Award was presented to Village Roadshow Operations Hellas for its successful business transformation and dynamic return to a growth trajectory following a demanding period of reorganization.
In detail, the Sector Protagonists were honored — leading companies in key sectors of the Greek economy based on turnover, pre-tax profits, and cash reserves.
In this category, the following were recognized: Amvyx S.A. (Alcoholic Beverages), Intracom Defense S.A. – IDE (Defense Electronic Systems), InterCars Greece L.L.C. (Vehicle Parts), B&F Clothing Industry (Clothing Industry), Melissa Kikizas S.A. (Pasta Industry), DDB S.A. (Advertising Agencies), Lamda Development (Shopping Centers), PPC S.A. (Energy), Kouros S.A. Advertising Constructions (Signage & Branded Environments), Circana Hellas S.A. (Polling & Market Research Companies), ACS Postal Services S.A. (Courier Companies), Papastratos Single-Member S.A. (Tobacco Products), NEF-NEF S.A. (White Goods), Pavlidis S.A. Marble-Granites (Marble – Granites), Initiative Media Advertising S.A. (Media Specialists), PPA S.A. (Port Organizations), Kotsovolos NextGen Retail Services Single-Member S.A. (Electrical & Electronic Goods Retailers), West Group (Sales Promotion), Hellenic Supermarkets Sklavenitis S.A. (Supermarkets), Athenian Mattress Industry S.A. – MediaStrom (Mattress Industry), V+O Greece | SEC Newgate (Communications & Public Relations Consultants), OTE S.A. (Telecommunications), PEIFASYN (Pharmaceutical Warehouses – Cooperatives), and MEGA Personal Care Products S.A. (Personal Hygiene Paper Products – Tissue).
The Platinum Greek Business Champions were also recognized — companies with a turnover exceeding €100 million that recorded a simultaneous increase of more than 20% in both turnover and pre-tax profits, confirming their dynamic and consistent growth trajectory.
In this category, awards were presented to InterCars Greece L.L.C., Road Transport Single-Member S.A. – OSY, and Olympios Group.
The Greek Business Champions were also honored — companies with an annual turnover of over €10 million and up to €100 million that likewise recorded a simultaneous increase of more than 20% in both turnover and pre-tax profits.
In this category, awards were presented to: Accelleron Greece Single-Member S.A., Active Energy Solutions, Aegean Omiros College, Air-Sea-Land L.S. Single-Member S.A., Alphadelta Constructions, ANAEKK S.A., Beauty Velonas – BVELO Group, Beds 4 Greece S.A., BriQ Properties REIC, Campari Hellas Single-Member S.A., Costafruit S.A., DDB S.A., Desquared S.A., Diebold Nixdorf Single-Member S.A., DI.A.DY.MA S.A., Elita S.A., EveryPay Single-Member S.A., Foundever Hellas Single-Member S.A., GEA Holidays, GEM Travel S.A., iComm Call Center – member of BFS Group, Il Toto S.A., Initiative Media Advertising S.A., Intracom Defense S.A. – IDE, Istion Yachting Single-Member S.A., Kalteq Single-Member S.A., Karell S.A., Kintonis Winery S.A., Kleva S.A., Kouros S.A. Advertising Constructions, Lamda Malls S.A., LMW Group, Meat House Single-Member S.A., Natech S.A., Nikolaos K. Baxevanis, Spyridis Group, Perfetti Van Melle Hellas Single-Member S.A., Protasis S.A., QProject Technical Single-Member S.A., Satways L.L.C., Sephora Greece Single-Member S.A., Tentec Technical Works S.A., Vicko Ilias Triantafyllidis S.A., World Transport Overseas Hellas Single-Member S.A., and Floridis Meats S.A.
In the “Growth and Investment” category, companies were recognized for their consistent and dynamic growth trajectory, as well as their long-standing commitment to strengthening the Greek economy through targeted and strategic investment initiatives.
The following were distinguished in this category: Accenture Single-Member S.A., Viozois S.A., Bright Group, Coffee Berry, MarketIn S.A., Moustakас N. Georgios S.A., Barba Stathis Single-Member S.A., MSG Electrical Installations (MSG Group of Companies), OASA Group, Tsetis Pharmaceutical Enterprises Group – OFET, Pronomiouchos S.A., Sky Express S.A., and Versus Travel L.L.C.
In the “Business Extroversion” category, Arampatzis Michail S.A. – Elliniki Zymi and LMW Group were recognized for expanding their activities beyond Greek borders and establishing their presence in international markets.
The “Historic Business” distinction was awarded to Coral-Shell Licensee, marking 100 years of Shell’s presence in Greece; to PPA S.A., celebrating 96 years of dynamic operation; and to Papastratos, marking 95 years since its founding.
The new “Social and Economic Impact Excellence Award” was presented to Lidl Hellas and Piraeus Container Terminal Single-Member S.A. – PCT. This distinction rewards companies that create substantial and measurable value for society, employment, and the Greek economy, and that — through their activities, investments, and initiatives — strengthen social cohesion and support the communities in which they operate.
The “Women’s Entrepreneurship Excellence Award” was presented to Sofia Bithara, President and Artistic Director of the B&F Group. The distinction recognizes women with a strong presence, significant achievements, and a dynamic trajectory in the business world who, through their skills, creativity, innovative thinking, and vision, forge new paths and serve as role models for the business community.
The new Transformation Excellence Award was presented to Credia Bank S.A. The award recognizes companies that successfully implement complex and demanding transformation plans, meaningfully renew their business model, and lay the foundations for a new and stronger growth path.
The Energy Innovator Award was presented to Atlantic-SEEL LNG Trade S.A., recognizing initiatives of an innovative and strategic nature that are reshaping the energy sector and elevating Greece’s position on the international energy map.
Finally, in the ceremony’s top distinction — “Company of the Year” — Papastratos emerged as the winner, following a vote among 9,500 senior executives from the country’s largest companies. Twenty of the most significant Greek businesses were nominated, having been selected through a pre-screening process conducted by the event’s special awards committee after reviewing their financial data and overall market profile and performance.
All awards and winners of the event are available at www.protagonists.gr/nikites-2026/
The event was hosted by journalist Giorgos Evgenidis, while the evening was opened by the publisher and director of Direction Business Network, Evangelos Papalios.
In his address, Direction Business Network publisher and director Evangelos Papalios highlighted the strong economic and social impact of the honored companies, as well as the expansion of the institution with new award categories. “The total turnover of the companies being awarded tonight reaches €27 billion. In other words, the businesses in this room today represent approximately 11.5% of Greek GDP. Their pre-tax profits amount to €2 billion and, most significantly of all, they employ more than 100,000 workers. I think the numbers truly speak for themselves,” he noted. He also emphasized that the institution is now broadening the scope of its awards: “With the new distinctions being introduced this year, we are highlighting successful corporate transformation, innovation, and meaningful social and economic impact. All of tonight’s awards certify that success is the result of strategy, investment, hard work, and belief in the future.”
The Award Ceremony was also honored by the presence and addresses of Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, Minister of Migration and Asylum Thanos Plevris, and Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Dimitris Markopoulos. Also in attendance was the Deputy Governor of Attica, Christina Kefalogianni.
This year’s event was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Development and the Ministry of National Economy and Finance.
