Mastihashop Selected as 2010 British Airways Face-of-Opportunity Winner

New York, NY, January 27, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Mastihashop USA announced that it has been selected by British Airways as a 2010 Face-of-Opportunity winner and has been awarded travel to anywhere in the world to conduct vital business meetings as well as attend the British Airways Face-of-Opportunity business conference. This award is part of the British Airways Face-to-Face program, which provides small business owners and entrepreneurs the critical tools for building business relationships abroad and stimulating growth through the power of face- to-face interaction.

“We are thrilled and honored to be part of the prestigious group of entrepreneurs that were chosen by British Airways as a Face-of-Opportunity winner. We are working hard to prepare and make the most of the planned events and our trip to Greece,” said owner Artemis Kohas. “This flight will give us the chance to meet our manufacturers and the Cooperative of Mastiha Growers on the island of Chios in Greece, as well as strategize for 2011 growth with key shareholders at the mastihashop offices in Athens.”

Mshop LLC, dba mastihashop, is the only existing outpost of the Greek mastihashop brand of stores in the Americas. Mastihashops sell Mediterranean natural products most of which contain Chios Mastiha, a therapeutic resin from the island of Chios in Greece. This tree sap was the first natural chewing gum and has been designated a PDO product by the European Union. It is recognized for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties contributing to oral and gastrointestinal health and hygiene as well as skin regeneration and healing.

Mastihashop is the official store and brand of the Chios Mastiha Growers Association, which is a cooperative of Mastiha growers who harvest this resin by hand in a centuries old process. Their logo is essential to the consumer who wants to ensure they are receiving the highest quality Mastiha. The resin is thus a fair trade, renewable, sustainable resource. In addition to the mastihashop brand, the stores sell an exclusive line of mastihashopcare beauty products made by Korres, a Mastiha Cuisine brand of gourmet products, as well as a few other specialty products made by small Greek and Lebanese companies. A natural product with the ability to prevent plaque and gingivitis, combat H. Pylori's acid reflux & ulcers, as well as be a coveted spice on the rack of avid cooks, equals a truly miraculous resin.

Before taking off, Artemis will attend the British Airways Face-of-Opportunity conference in New York City on Feb. 2, 2011 where the company will receive free counsel from top influential international business experts while networking with venture capitalists, renowned entrepreneurs, media and other small business owners.

The conference, which includes an introduction by Simon Talling-Smith, Executive Vice President Americas, British Airways, and keynote speeches by Rhonda Abrams, best-selling author and USA Today small business columnist and Bill Rancic, best-selling author and first season winner of The Apprentice, will provide mastihashop USA with additional tools in business planning, marketing and travel to assist the company in its strategy to increase web presence, launch a wholesale division and open retail shops in other major US cities.

“We are very excited for this phase of the program and for the 250 small business owners who, beyond the educational resources already provided through the Face-to-Face program, now have the opportunity to fly British Airways overseas to conduct vital face-to-face meetings for their business,” said Simon Talling-Smith. “Each of the winner’s stories is uniquely inspiring and our hope is that the program is a powerful catalyst in ensuring lasting and fruitful businesses for them.”

Additional information on Face-to-Face is available by visiting the airlines website, ba.com/facetoface.

###