On the Greek island of Thassos, the Tyrologos family – comprising four medical doctors, two engineers and a teacher – sell organic olive oil and related products through a company called Vieltha. Aided by the Enterprise Europe Network, they now export to several countries.

For help finding new markets the family turned to their local branch of the Enterprise Europe Network, an EU-funded support network for small- and medium-sized companies.

“We tracked down the relevant legislation and invited them to key trade fairs across Europe,” says Olga Kazianis, international relations coordinator at the Chamber of Kavala in northern Greece, one of nearly 600 Network partner organisations in 50 countries helping SMEs expand abroad.

In 2009, the Chamber introduced Vieltha to a Romanian entrepreneur on a Network trade mission to Kavala. The entrepreneur, Lucian Anghel, runs a Bucharest travel agency that sells Mediterranean food products via a web portal. “It’s a great way to get future customers interested in little-known areas where high-quality agricultural products are produced,” says Anghel.

The companies agreed to cooperate, and Anghel now sells Vieltha’s heart-healthy olive oils on his portal.  

“Thanks to the Network, we are exporting to Romania, as well as Japan, France, Switzerland Belgium and Germany,” says cardiologist and Vieltha CEO Dr. Argiris Tyrologos.

Back in Romania, Anghel continues to work with his Network branch as he expands his own business.

“We are always here for them,” assures Florin Lianu, Network consultant with the Romanian Association for the Electronic and Software Industry.