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Cape Town – The recently launched Ocean Basket in Athens is standing its ground amid the Greek debt crisis despite some periods with empty tables, according to its CEO.
“Since the start of the crisis at the end of last week [Friday] there have been spurts when it has gone quiet,” Ocean Basket CEO, Grace Harding told Fin24. “The mood in Athens is a bit numb.”
Greece is currently in the midst of a six-day bank shutdown as its financial institutions exercise capital controls to stabilise the Greek banking system. The country has defaulted on its €1.6bn loan to the International Monetary Fund and awaits the outcome of a referendum with foreign creditors.
WATCH: Why a Greek minister could cut off his arm
In response to a question about whether the business is experiencing supply chain related problems, Harding said: “We are getting all our stock without any issues, as the distribution centre in Cyprus is looking after Greece."
Building the brand
According to Harding the group has given assurances to the Athens staff and community. “We made a similar commitment to the Cypriot community during their crisis,” she said, recalling how the company had to deal with the Cyprus financial crisis between 2012 and 2013.
READ: World is Ocean Basket's oyster
“The universe is making us experts in managing financial crisis,” said Harding. “We're just being who we are and building on our everyday brand, we are not doing anything different.
“Our eyes are on long term success. We build our brand by focusing on the people, because it’s all about great food and the happiness of our customers. There are always going to be bumpy rides. You cannot expect everything to be smooth all of the time, and we’ll be there not just in the good times, but in the bad times too."
When asked what the company plans to change during this crisis in Greece, Harding said that nothing will change at all.
“Before this crisis, we gave the people of Greece an abundance of outstanding and affordable seafood in a warm and happy environment. And that’s exactly what we’re going to keep on doing,” Harding said.
Referendum
On Thursday, the Greece prime minister defiantly urged Greeks to reject an international bailout deal.
READ: Greece's Tsipras digs in against bailout
According to a Reuters report this move has wrecked any prospect of repairing broken relations with European Union partners before a referendum on Sunday that may decide Greece's future in Europe.
Greece has shut its banks this week, imposing capital controls and limiting ATM withdrawals to prevent the public from emptying financial institutions.
On the third day of the closure, according to the report, long lines have formed at many ATMs and limited amounts of cash were doled out to pensioners.
Kiki Rizopoulou, a 79-year-old pensioner from Lamia in central Greece, had to travel to Athens to collect her pension, spending €20 of the €120 she was allowed to withdraw.
"I already have to pay back €50 that I owe. It's embarrassing," she told Reuters.
SEE GALLERY: Greece pensioner mayhem, frustration
