We are very excited to celebrate our 5 year anniversary here at Up Hellas! We couldn't be more proud of everything we have achieved so far!

We couldn't have done it without our team, our partners' trust and of course without the support of the Up Group ❤️

That's why we have decided to invite Youssef Achour, president & CEO of the Up Group, to share with us some of the things our team wanted to know!

About You

When did you join the Group?

After several experiences in finance management positions, I joined Up Group in 1999. First in charge of operational roles in France, then in Europe & Mediterranean. And for more than a year now, the Board of Directors has entrusted me as President and CEO.

Do you have a favourite cause you support?

I have always been involved in solidarity and local initiatives that enable people in difficulty to train for the restaurant and catering business and to find a job. And of course, I am active for the promotion of different way of doing business, particularly through the model of our company, whose parent company is a cooperative and thus belongs to its employees.

About the Up Group

What do you believe will be the future of the employee benefits?

The boom for social vouchers benefiting employees and citizens in many countries, is real. Indeed, our solutions contribute to public social and economic recovery policies. Our digital, agile and multi-product solutions provide an experience that corresponds to the new online consumption habits. Social vouchers create a virtuous circle: they guarantee that the recovery through consumption supports very specific business or consumer goods and services, in favor of defined territories and benefits the economy in a short period of time.

What do you think are the priorities and biggest challenges our Group will face in the next few years?

First of all, like everyone else, we need to bounce back after 2020, a year that has been quite complex due to the global health crisis. It's up to us to show that our solutions are operational, different, effective and have a local impact. Secondly, digitalization. Historically we were issuers of "paper vouchers", but now our business is mainly digital with online, mobile and application solutions, and we must continue along this path. Finally, as a Social and Solidarity Economy player, we want to strengthen our solutions as they have a social impact.

About Up Hellas & Greece

What surprises you the most with our subsidiary in Greece?

We opened our premise in Greece in 2016 and started to operate in the country shortly afterwards. Our team rapidly grew in skills and expertise for our clients and for the beneficiaries of our solutions in a tax-friendly environment for all. In 5 years, more than 2,000 large and small companies now propose our "Go For Eat" solution to their employees for use in local food stores or restaurants. And, we have many affiliates all over the country who accept our "Up Cadhoc" gift solution as this payment solution offers great freedom of use.

What's your favourite place in Greece?

Among the countries I have had the opportunity to discover, Greece captivates me by its contribution to Humanity. Especially the Agora Museum located at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, which has the particularity of exhibiting an antique work that makes sense to me and to Up group. It is a stone memorial that represents "Democracy". Indeed, the cooperative roots of our Group could not exist without the great principles of corporate democracy nor the services we offer to the interest of all.