Greek Retail Figure Panos Marinopoulos Dies Aged 74

The news in Greek

1. επιχειρηματίας  (m.)
   άτομο που οργανώνει και διοικεί μια επιχείρηση με σκοπό το κέρδος ↩︎
2. εγκέφαλος  (m.)
   το όργανο μέσα στο κεφάλι που ελέγχει όλες τις λειτουργίες του σώματος και της σκέψης ↩︎
3. κηδεία  (f.)
   τελετή για τον αποχαιρετισμό και την ταφή ή καύση ενός νεκρού ↩︎
4. αλυσίδα  (f.)
   στην οικονομία, ομάδα πολλών καταστημάτων με το ίδιο όνομα και διοίκηση ↩︎
5. κατάστημα  (n.)
   χώρος όπου πωλούνται προϊόντα ή προσφέρονται υπηρεσίες στο κοινό ↩︎
6. επιχείρηση  (f.)
   οργανωμένη οικονομική μονάδα που παράγει ή προσφέρει προϊόντα ή υπηρεσίες ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Where did Panos Marinopoulos’s funeral take place?

Question 2: What kind of business did Panos Marinopoulos’s family have in Greece?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
επιχειρηματίας  (m.)	entrepreneur
εγκέφαλος  (m.)	brain
κηδεία  (f.)	funeral
αλυσίδα  (f.)	chain (e.g. chain of shops)
κατάστημα  (n.)	shop / store
επιχείρηση  (f.)	business / company

Read the full story

The Greek businessman Panos Marinopoulos, a prominent member of one of Greece’s best‑known retail families, has died at the age of 74 from anoxic encephalopathy, a serious brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen.

According to Greek media reports, Marinopoulos passed away on Thursday and his funeral was held on Saturday 22 November at the First Cemetery of Athens. Relatives, friends and figures from the Greek business community attended to pay their last respects in what was described as an atmosphere of deep emotion.

Panos Marinopoulos was part of the Marinopoulos family, which played a major role in modern Greek economic life. For decades, the family was active in retail trade through the well‑known chains Prisunic Marinopoulos and later Marinopoulos S.A., as well as in the pharmaceutical industry through the company FAMAR. Different Greek news outlets underline that the group’s activities were considered significant for the development of both sectors in Greece.

Born in 1951, Marinopoulos studied at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and later continued his studies at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris (often known internationally as Sciences Po). He went on to serve on the boards of directors of several companies within the family group, including Famar S.A., Afoi (Brothers) Marinopouloi and TITAN.

Greek reports note that he had a key role in the expansion of the Marinopoulos group, helping it to move into new areas of activity and to establish international partnerships. These collaborations strengthened the group’s position in the domestic market at a time when modern supermarket chains and large‑scale retail were transforming consumer habits in Greece.

At its peak, Marinopoulos S.A. was described as the largest retail group in Greece. From the early 1960s until 2016, it operated hundreds of stores across the country, selling food, clothing, electronics and beverages. By early 2015, the group reportedly ran 749 stores in Greece under various brand names, including Carrefour, Carrefour Marinopoulos, Carrefour Express, Terra Market cash & carry, Smile and OK Anytime Market, and also had a presence in Cyprus. At an earlier high point, the network is said to have reached 906 outlets.

In addition to his career, Greek newspapers provide some details of his personal life. Marinopoulos was married three times. His first marriage was to Olga Goulandris, with whom he had a son, Yiannis. His second marriage was to Ioanna Marinopoulou, and they had two children together. His third wife was Elena Nakou‑Marinopoulou. One of the articles specifically mentions that he had two children with Ioanna Marinopoulou, while other reports focus more generally on his family ties and the condolences expressed by those close to him.

The cause of death, anoxic encephalopathy, is explained in some Greek coverage as a severe damage to the brain resulting from an interruption in oxygen supply, which can lead to irreversible complications. Despite medical efforts, his condition could not be reversed. This medical detail is highlighted to clarify the nature of the illness, rather than to speculate on any wider health issues.

Across the different news sources, the tone is largely similar: they emphasise Marinopoulos’s longstanding presence in the Greek business world, the importance of the Marinopoulos group to the development of organised retail, and the sadness among family, friends and business associates following his death. The reports do not present strong opposing viewpoints, but they differ slightly in emphasis—some focus more on his business achievements and the scale of the retail network, while others highlight his family background, education and the emotional atmosphere at his funeral.

For readers outside Greece, the death of Panos Marinopoulos marks the passing of a figure linked to a key chapter in Greek retail history, when supermarket chains and pharmaceutical production were expanding rapidly. Greek media portray him as part of a wider family effort that helped shape how many Greeks shopped and accessed everyday consumer goods for more than half a century.

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