Michalis Bousis: Who is the major shareholder of OFI - The supermarket empire in the US and the sponsorship of the Bucks, how he came toCrete

Michalis Bousis was born in 1974 in Illinois, the firstborn son of Dimitris and Eleni Bousis. A family that learned early on what it means to start from scratch. Dimitris Bousis, originally from Argos, left for America at a young age. There he met Eleni Palivou from Tripoli. Their relationship had caused great reactions in their families and, as people close to the family say, they were “stolen” to get married. The two of them had four children, Michalis, Evangelos, Giorgos and Victoria.Their daily life was hard. Working from morning until night, saving up to the last dollar. Michalis Bousis himself has described how his father even avoided the bus so as not to waste money. “His dream was to go to America, make 10,000 dollars and come back,” he has said.In the early 1980s, the family returned to Greece for a while. They lived in Peristeri and Dimitris Bousis tried to join Olympic Airways. He did not succeed and returned to the USA. That's where the real "explosion" begins.The path to success in the USA

In 1986, he opened the first "Central Park Produce" with Pantelis Tzotzolis. In 1993, "Cermak Produce" followed. From there, Cermak Fresh Market was born. A chain that started with a small store and evolved into a network of almost 20 stores in Illinois and Wisconsin, with revenues exceeding 600 million dollars. Michalis Bousis grew up in this everyday life. He worked from a young age, learning the value of effort. During his school years, he played American football at the college level, until a serious knee injury stopped him. He did not give up. In 2002, at the age of 28, he opened his first store.Today, together with his father, he controls a business with dozens of stores, while also being active in real estate.

At the same time, the family is directly linked to sports in the USA. Cermak Fresh Market is a sponsor of the Milwaukee Bucks, the team where Giannis Antetokounmpo grew up. In 2021, when the Bucks won the championship after 50 years, Michalis Bousis was one of the few non-team members to receive the championship ring.The family, however, is not limited to business. Michalis’ brother, Giorgos Bousis, distinguished himself in the technology field with the Raise platform and was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2015. The other brother, Evangelos Bousis, is active in the fashion industry with the Dundas house and in cinema, while Victoria Bousis has founded a production company and operates internationally in the film and technology fields.Philanthropy is a key part of their identity. Mother Eleni Bousis has founded the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation, supports the Greek American Nursing Home and participates in the Little City Foundation. The family has even developed action in Africa, creating structures for children.Major shareholder of OFI

Within this context, in 2017, the first contact with OFI comes, through journalist Nikos Papaioannou and international footballer Giorgos Samaras. The project begins to mature. And on October 4, 2018, Michalis Bousis becomes a major shareholder of OFI 1925 FC. On October 10, he takes over as president. He doesn't come in to try. He comes in to invest. And he does. "I've passed the 15 million mark," he declares, revealing the size of his financial support. Money that was directed towards transfers, infrastructure, operation and reorganization of the team.

The change is starting to show. OFI is stabilizing, better organized and in the 2019-2020 season it reaches 5th place, ensuring a European exit after 20 years. At the same time, investments are made in the facilities, while the idea for a new stadium in Heraklion is born. But the real highlight comes later. Last year it participated again in the cup final against Olympiacos where it loses. This year, however, OFI wins the Greek Cup after 39 years, beating PAOK with a score of 3-2 in extra time. A success that goes beyond the boundaries of football and becomes an issue for the whole of Crete. For Michalis Bousis, it is the justification of an investment that some questioned at first.The zeibekiko holding the cup is not just a celebration. It is the expression of a journey. From the food cart in Chicago, to the millions of Cermak, from the sponsorship of Giannis Antetokounmpo's Milwaukee Bucks, to the OFI cup after 39 years, Michalis Bousis shows that he did not enter Greek football simply to pass through. He came to leave his mark.