Mikos Gyros, one of the UK’s fastest-growing Greek food brands, is using a tailored Invoice Finance facility from Optimum Finance to support its continued expansion in retail and e-commerce.

Founded by Hugo Ushida, Mikos Gyros began after Hugo discovered a modern take on Greek street food during a working holiday in Melbourne. Returning to the UK, Hugo opened the first Mikos Gyros site in Clapham in 2017, followed by a second in Brixton.

By 2020, Mikos Gyros had become Deliveroo’s busiest restaurant, winning “Best Meal Under £10” at the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards the following year.

In 2023, Hugo saw an opportunity to diversify, and Mikos Gyros launched a premium range of Greek grocery products, catering to customers looking for high-quality, ready-to-eat meals at home. With demand surging, the business faced new financial pressures that needed to be addressed.

To overcome this, Mikos Gyros turned to Optimum Finance for a solution. Invoice Finance allows Mikos Gyros to release cash tied up in unpaid invoices, enabling the brand to reinvest in growth without waiting for payment. This facility has helped Mikos Gyros cover key expenses like packaging machinery, production costs, and new orders. “We now have the liquidity to keep pace with our growth,” explains Hugo, adding: “Instead of waiting for weeks or months to be paid, we can access the funds immediately and keep investing in production, machinery, and orders.”

Mikos Gyros operates within two booming sectors: a £3 billion UK retail market for world foods, and a £2.8 billion market for takeaway kebab shops. The business sees significant growth potential, particularly as gyros has outperformed fajitas on Google Trends every summer for the past three years. With major retail listings currently in progress, Mikos Gyros is building momentum to rival established brands in the sector.

With expansion into retail, a new Amazon listing, and ambitious plans for growth, Mikos Gyros is on track for continued success. Hugo is determined to position the brand as a leader in the grocery sector.

“Our goal is to build a brand that can compete with the biggest players in the market, but with a focus on quality and innovation,” he says. “We listen to our customers and stay true to our roots in offering fresh, high-quality products.”

Future plans also include securing listings with five major UK retailers, then expanding internationally into the EU, US, and ANZ markets.

The partnership with Optimum Finance has been essential to Mikos Gyros’ strategy for sustainable growth. “Optimum’s flexibility and efficiency have been invaluable in helping us scale without taking on unnecessary debt,” says Hugo. “The team is always responsive and genuinely invested in our success.”

As Mikos Gyros grows from a popular restaurant to a household name, access to flexible finance is helping drive its next phase of growth, bringing the taste of modern Greek street food to more customers, in more places across the UK.