The founder and mentor of the Smart Discount Shops Group is the Dimitrakis and Elena Hailis family. In 2002 the first Smart was launched in Larnaka and the second operated in 2004 in Nicosia by the company E. Hailis (Athienitis) Ltd.  In the following years Smart expanded with the establishment of a Franchise and expanded throughout Cyprus. Today there are 16 Smart shops with very reputable managers (Franchisees) and the Licensor (Franchisor) is Melodica Commercial Company Ltd.

The group's chairman is Mr. Dimitrakis Hailis, who is one of the leading entrepreneurs in the field of retail and wholesale trade, with 45 years of experience. His first lessons in trade were taken from his father, who kept a grocery store in Athienou and from his brother Costas, who was a trader, he gained considerable knowledge in the wholesale business.

Melodica Commercial Company Ltd is a member of the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  Mr. Dimitrakis Hailis, chairman of the Smart Group, participated for several years on the board of directors and for three years served the EVEL from the post of Vice-president. He also served as president of the Larnaca reservist officers. He was the founder and vice-president of the supermarket association, president of unions and a Larnaca municipal councilor.

This is the year that Mr. Hailis made his first successful step. Having ₤500 and three employees, he opens a shop with the name ‘Popular Market D. Hailis Athienitis Ltd’. The shop is in kalogera Street in Larnaca. With the help of his wife, Mrs. Elena Haili, he continues running the shop for four years.

Due to an increase in the turnover and for a better customer service, the shop in Kalogera is transferred to a bigger place near the Community Centre in Larnaca. Moreover, in this year the number of employees rises to 30.

In 1984 it is relocated again to new larger spaces, this time in privately owned buildings on Stratigou Timagia Avenue in Larnaka and it is renamed to Super Athienitis Department store. For many years it occupied the first place and served not only the consumer public, but hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and kiosks.  Gradually the department store reached 120 employees.

This year the Hailis family decides to sell the company to a well-known Public Company and to deal exclusively with the financial domain with which he has been involved since 1990. During this time, the family business becomes stronger with the help of the family’s children who finish their studies and join in. In addition, this is the year when Hailisco Group of Companies is founded. Now, six companies which among other things, deal with the financial, investment, and land development domain belong to Hailisco.

smart discount shops

2002 is the year when the first Smart Discount Shops store in the centre of Larnaka starts its operation and its management is undertaken by E. Hailis (Athienitis) Ltd.  The Directors were Mrs. Elena Hailis and Mr. Magda Hailis. 

The company E. Hailis (Athienitis) LTD proceeded with the opening of the second Smart store in Nicosia and specifically Kokkinotrimithia, with the Mr. Stavros Hailis becoming its Director. Mr Stavros ran this store with success for at least 10 years and was subsequently replaced by another Director, whilst he joined Melodica Commercial Company Ltd (Franchisor) and took over the vice presidency of the Smart Discount Shops group. 

In 2006, the management of Smart Discount Shops was undertaken by Melodica Commercial Company Ltd. In the same year, Smart Nisou (which was previously a supermarket) joins the group.

In 2008 the second Smart store launches in Larnaca, in the area of Agios Lazaros. Furthermore, the group proceeds with the opening of Smart Discount Shops in the city of Limassol in the area of Naafi.

In 2009 two more stores started operating, one in Tseri and one in Angisides.

In 2010 the eighth Smart store starts operating, this time in Pafos.

In 2011, a second Smart store opens in Limassol, in Kolossi.

In 2012 Smart opens in Meneiou, and a second Smart is launched in Pafos, whilst in the same year the first Smart starts its operation in non-occupied Famagusta and specifically in Paralimni.

In 2013, the third Smart store starts its operation in Limassol, in Kolonaki Street in the area of Yermasoyia. 

In 2015 another Smart store is opened, the fourth in Nicosia, this time in Strovolos. 

In 2018, another 2 Smart stores are launched, one in Aradippou and one in Lakatamia. 

2020 finds the Smart Discount Shops Group with 16 stores operating with quite a good performance.  There are 5 Smart stores in Nicosia District, five Smart in Larnaka District, three Smart in Limassol District, two Smart in Paphos District and one Smart in non-occupied Famagusta and specifically in Paralimni.