Another iconic figure of the Greek community, Sydney businessman Kikis Efthimiou, renowned not only for his excellence in importing food from Greece but also for his extensive community work, has passed away.

In a statement, the President and Members of the Board of Directors of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW expressed their heartfelt condolences to his family, sharing in their grief.

Among other things, they said:

“Kikis Efthimiou was a member of the Board of Directors of our Community for many years and was always present in the struggles for the social rights of Greeks in the community and the Australian society during difficult times.

Kikis Efthimiou also served as President of the committee of the Greek Community Nursing Home of the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales in Earlwood for many years, raising significant funds to ensure that elderly Greeks in Australia received adequate care in their old age.

He was an active member of the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales from the time he arrived in Australia.

May the soil that covers him be light.

From the Board of Directors.”

In the business sector, Kikis Efthimiou made his mark through the company KEBIA.

KEBIA was founded in 1964 by Cypriot Efthimiou and Thessalonian Vasilis Iatropoulos, who formed a strong bond of friendship due to their shared journey as immigrants to Sydney, Australia, in the mid-1950s.

The two friends and partners started with small steps but big dreams, which is why today KEBIA has evolved into one of the largest food import and distribution companies with a network extending throughout Europe.

In an interview for a publication dedicated to Sydney’s shops, Kikis Efthimiou shared: “I saw a bright future for KEBIA. Every time the ‘Patris’ brought 1,500 immigrants from Greece to Sydney, I saw 1,500 potential customers. As the Greek community grew, so did the business, becoming increasingly connected with our community. KEBIA had become Greece’s best customer.”

For nearly half a century, the two friends and partners managed KEBIA with great success. In 2008, they decided to retire and handed over the company to Michalis Georgiadis and Lakis Adamou.