Established in 2005 with the idea to grow orchids on the plains of north-eastern Slovenia with help of geothermal energy, the Dobrovnik-based company has sold almost ten million orchids since.

The company is present on 12 markets of Central and Southeast Europe, and in Slovenia, where it generates around a quarter of its sales, Ocean Orchids holds a majority market share.

Last year the company generated EUR 6m in revenues, and the figure is expected to exceed EUR 7m this year, which would be a new record. Sales of orchids are also expected to reach record numbers.

Ocean Orchids, which employs 43 people, also manages a tropical garden, which is visited every year by tens of thousands of people from Slovenia and abroad, mostly from Hungary.

"We could not have imagined then years ago that it would be so hard, but we have made it eventually," director Roman Ferenčak told the STA on the sidelines of the anniversary event.

But he also warned about the potentially "catastrophic consequences" of the increase of concession fees for the use of geothermal water planned by the government. "This means almost half a million euros a year, so this practically means an end."