Before the 1974 Turkish invasion, Mr. Hambis, a nomadic peddler of that era, operated his trade from the village of KARMI, covering the entire Kyrenia district as he traded fruits and vegetables alongside his young son, Alekos. However, after the Turkish invasion, the situation drastically changed.

Despite facing numerous difficulties as refugees in an unfamiliar land, they persevered and continued to engage in what they knew best: trading, the skill that had defined their livelihoods for so long.

A year after the war, Mr. Alekos Sofokleous got married and took a bold step, embarking on a pioneering endeavour for that time. He opened the “FIRST FRUIT MARKET” in Limassol (Franklin Roosevelt Street), and to his surprise, it was warmly welcomed by the wider consumer community of the city.

Building on its success, he later opened a larger fruit shop in the heart of the city (Agias Fylaxeos Street), which also achieved remarkable results. At present, there are six shops, serving the central and western areas of Limassol city.

In 1995, he transformed his entrepreneurial vision into reality by founding KARMI UNIFRUIT LTD, a company specialising in the import of fruits and vegetables.

His primary goal was to optimise the supply chain for his customers. However, the overwhelming demand across Cyprus exceeded all expectations, prompting a substantial increase in imports and ultimately driving the company to venture into wholesale trade as well.

Catering to the needs and growing demands of KARMI UNIFRUIT LTD’s loyal clientele for local produce (beyond imports), a new venture was born in 2010 – KARMI GENERAL TRADING (CYPRUS) LTD.

This new company was dedicated to exclusively trading in domestic products. With the reputable name of ‘KARMI’ backing the endeavour, its success was virtually guaranteed.