The Hellenic Association of Organized Food Service Enterprises (EPOES) has suspended the membership of Pizza Fan following evidence of a tax fraud scheme allegedly involving multiple outlets of the pizza chain. According to an official statement, the EPOES board of directors held an emergency meeting on October 22 and unanimously passed the suspension, effective until a full investigation into the case is completed.
The official EPOES statement on Pizza Fan
The EPOES board of directors announced “the suspension of membership status for PIZZA FAN pending a full investigation of the case, while always respecting the presumption of innocence and steadfastly upholding the principles of transparency and legality.”
“This decision, though it saddens all EPOES members, is self-evident and unanimous. For the association’s members, adherence to legality and transparency is both a founding mission and a strategic priority — a non-negotiable prerequisite for the sector’s growth and the promotion of fair competition. Any deviation from these principles cannot be tolerated,” the statement emphasized.
How the scheme was uncovered and the financial scale of the fraud
A pivotal role in exposing the alleged scheme was played by a police raid on Pizza Fan’s headquarters in Chalandri, as reported by Spyros Darsinos. Investigators found that while the location officially operated as the chain’s legitimate order management center, evidence suggests it simultaneously served as the operational hub for a parallel, off-the-books business activity.
Authorities are placing particular emphasis on the financial scale of the case. Based on evidence gathered so far, the turnover linked to the activity under investigation exceeds €200 million, while the estimated loss from unpaid VAT stands at approximately €25 million. However, investigators have not ruled out the possibility that the total tax damage could prove to be even greater as the probe continues.
