Having prepared for the crisis Kafkas has doubled its turnover

The course of Greek electrical equipment and lighting solutions company Kafkas over the years of the country's financial crisis is an exception worth analyzing.

While the Greek economy shrank by 25 percent in 2008-16 and the electrical equipment market associated with construction activity saw business contract 60 percent, Kafkas not only managed to survive but also doubled its sales with steadily high profits.

At end-2017 its turnover will exceed 130 million euros, against 68 million in 2008, while pretax profits will top 6 million euros. It now controls 38 percent of the market, compared to just 9 percent before the crisis broke out, being the industry leader by some distance.

Founded by electrician Vassilis Kafkas in 1975, his son, Nikos, expanded the firm from three stores in 2000 to 10 in 2003, making it the Greek market leader in 2004.

"From 2006 we...