When Elefteria Spyridaki returned to Crete from Germany, where she attained a master's degree in international marketing, with a specialization in the Asian market, there weren't too many careers in that field to pursue.

The year was 2001 and the ethnic market, or more specifically, the Asian market, in Crete was in its infancy.

"Actually, I went to Athens first, where there was more opportunity, and worked as a sales manager for an export company," she recalled. "My husband, Yiorgos Agiasmenos, really didn't care for Athens so a year later we returned to Crete."

Elefteria's family had some property in Iraklion and offered it to the couple for a business venture. But just what sort of business, they weren't sure at first.

"I had discovered authentic Chinese food through my Chinese professor at university, who sometimes invited students for real home-cooked meals," she said. "Then I spent a year in Shanghai on an exchange program and between the two, I really fell in love with Chinese cooking. And my husband was in the food business in Germany, supplying Greek products to Greek restaurants there, so I had this idea to import Asian products for Chinese restaurants here."

At that time, however, there were only two or three Chinese restaurants in the Iraklion area, and many local Cretans were reluctant to try any ethnic food. But, she had this feeling that the market would grow once people had an opportunity to experience proper ethnic food so she started her company. Since Elefteria envisioned her new business as sort of a culinary gateway to the Orient, she named it Pili, which in Greek means "gateway."

"We started slowly, importing only authentic Chinese products and selling wholesale," she explained. "Then, as the ethnic market started growing as we hoped, we expanded to include authentic products from other Asian countries, like Korea and Thailand and, of course, sushi from Japan. A while later, a substantial Chinese community was established in Iraklion, and we decided to start selling retail as well as wholesale."

 Now, Pili imports products from many countries, including England, Poland, Russia and India. In addition to package goods, Elefteria now has a wide selection of frozen items like prawns from Thailand and special Chinese ducklings.   

"All our products are authentic from their country of origin, and are normally not available in conventional super markets or food stores," she said.

Since her humble beginning in 2002, Elefteria has guided Pili into becoming one of the major ethnic food importers in the country, now shipping to all of Greece and its islands, as well as some neighbouring countries, including Cyprus. In addition to her wholesale showroom and retail store, with an adjoining small warehouse, at 362, 62 Martyron Avenue in Iraklion, Elefteria maintains a larger, 800-square-metre warehouse just outside the city.

When Elefteria, who speaks fluent German, English, Russian and Mandarin Chinese, isn't directing her importing operation from her office behind the shop, she is often travelling to various countries attending food shows and exhibitions.

"We're always looking for new and exciting ethnic products to introduce to the Greek market," she said. "Also, we're now looking into the possibility of adding Mexican products to our line."

Being surrounded by all these exotic foods, we wondered if Elefteria enjoyed cooking foreign dishes.

"Of course," she replied. "My favourite is kumpao chicken, a great Chinese dish made with chili peppers."

And what about Greek dishes?

"For those I have my mother!"