Pizza Fan: Hidden software, secret room and €5 million tax evasion
Economic Police arrested 20 people for €5 million tax evasion at the Pizza Fan chain. A secret room containing €500,000 in cash was found at the owner's residence.
Pizza Fan: Special algorithm, secret room and charges against 126 people
The Pizza Fan pizza chain, with more than 100 outlets across Greece, is at the centre of a major tax evasion case. According to tanea.gr, the Economic Police (DAOE) filed charges against 126 people and arrested 20, including the chain's founder, accountants, officials responsible for the computer system, and store managers. The damage to the State is estimated at €5,000,000.
The "treat" algorithm and failure to issue receipts
The method described in the EL.AS. document is technically sophisticated. The central ordering system — controlled by the company — forwarded each order to the corresponding franchise outlet. When an order was completed, the cashier had three options: issue a receipt for cash, issue one for card, or cancel. For selected orders, a special algorithm activated a fourth option — the so-called "treat-receipt" — which allowed the order to be executed without a lawful receipt.
The criteria for activating this option were the order amount (up to €40), the payment method (cash or card) and the delivery method (delivery or take away). The undeclared orders remained recorded in the central system, so that the criminal organisation could monitor total turnover and distribute illegal profits. The percentage of receipts that were not issued amounted to approximately 20%.
Supervision of this entire mechanism, according to police, belonged to the company's accounting department, based on Pentelis Avenue in Halandri, Attica. At the same time, the company encouraged cash payments, discouraging the use of payment cards.
Secret room and €500,000 in cash
During investigations, police officers identified a small room hidden behind furniture at the company owner's residence. More than €500,000 in cash was found inside, and jewellery of significant value was also seized. It is noted that the owner officially holds only 0.01% of the company.
From complaint about insurance contributions to tax evasion case
The investigation began in April, following a complaint concerning failure to pay insurance contributions to employees. Specifically, according to the complaint, the chain's outlets declared employees for fewer hours than they actually worked, resulting in lower contributions being paid.
As part of the preliminary examination that followed following a prosecutorial order, the aspect of partial non-payment of VAT through the special software was also revealed. Following months of telephone interception monitoring, the Economic Police proceeded with arrests.
The role of the circuit's "deputy chief"
The EL.AS. document describes in detail the role of the second defendant, who is characterised as the "most trusted person" of the leader. According to the charge, he effectively performed the duties of financial director: he was fully aware of the tax evasion mechanism, participated in its coordination and expansion, oversaw the distribution of illegal benefits, and provided guidance on avoiding detection by tax and prosecution authorities.
Turnover of €60 million and profit decline
The Pizza Fan chain, which has operated in the Greek food service market since 1996, recorded turnover of €60.44 million in 2025, an increase of 19% compared to 2024. However, net profits amounted to €533,112, marking a decline of 66.5%. In an analysis concerning this decline, reference was made to increases in the cost of raw materials, payroll, energy, transport, rent and other operating expenses.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)