Pizza Fan clears path to reopen stores as money-laundering authority frees two accounts

Two accounts released

Greece's anti-money laundering authority has released two sight bank accounts of Pizza Fan, clearing the way for the chain's stores to reopen. The order was issued by the authority's head, Charalambos Vourliotis, a former honorary deputy prosecutor of the Areios Pagos. Payroll accounts had been excluded from the asset freeze from the outset, so the new release concerns the wider set of debts that built up while the business was frozen. The assets of 23 people arrested in the case were frozen, and until now only the payroll account had been left open for wages. Reports published on 6 November 2026 describe the release as a decisive step toward reopening.

Who can be paid

The order allows payments to employees, suppliers, landlords, DEKO public utilities and the franchise network, along with tax bills, social security contributions, loans and leasing obligations. The company can also collect payments from its customers and from ordering platforms such as efood and Wolt, and that revenue may be used to cover costs of the company and its franchise stores. To let banks process these transactions smoothly, Pizza Fan must submit detailed lists of its employees, suppliers, landlords and all other counterparties. Staff numbers differ between outlets: in.gr reports more than 2,000 employees left unpaid, while iefimerida gives about 2,500. Lawyer Michalis Markoulakos welcomed the decision in a statement.

“We express our gratitude to the judiciary and all the competent authorities that heard our positions.”

In the same statement he said the authority's decision protects jobs and prevents a serious economic squeeze on the company.

Restrictions and tax filings

Cash withdrawals and distributions of dividends and profits remain restricted, so earnings stay inside the company and strengthen its finances. Pizza Fan has started filing amended tax returns for earlier years. The company says the amounts involved are far lower than the figures presented so far. It attributes the errors to the speed of the initial investigation and expects them to be corrected in the coming period.

Criminal case

Criminal proceedings are in full progress before the competent judicial authorities. The owner of the chain has been remanded in custody. The freeze was imposed when the case came to light, and the payroll account was the only one that stayed free of it. The release therefore extends the company's ability to pay obligations after weeks in which, according to reports, employees went unpaid.