Kaufland

In Bulgaria, retailer Kaufland continues betting on domestic production. In 2018, it reports a 10% growth in the number of Bulgarian producers it is partnered with, compared to 2017. The company said to be also committed to supplying this production nationally and to helping improve the production processes.

One of Europe's largest retail chains, Germany's Kaufland, and one of the world's largest consumer goods manufacturers, Unilever, entered into a trade dispute over the prices of the goods sold. This has led to a break in their relationship, which will also affect the Bulgarian market. In early September, the chain decided to remove from sale 480 Unilever products in Germany.

On March 30, 2018 at 10.00 in the House of Europe (124, GS Rakovski Str.) in Sofia will be launched RUN4EU initiative - the first free run for students and school teams.

German businesses prefer to trade with Bulgaria rather than invest into the country, an article on DW Bulgaria's website argues.

Bilateral trade has posted a sevenfold increase since Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007 and is likely to reach EUR 7 B in 2016, with the volume of exported goods by Bulgaria now being just 25% lower than the one imported from Germany.

Bulgaria's Commission for Protection of Competition (KZK) has launched a probe into a suspected cartel agreement between four foreign retail chains operating in the country.

More than sixty German companies have declared interest towards investing in Bulgaria, which is a serious change in their number compared to previous years.

This was announced by Bulgarian Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski on Wednesday at the official opening ceremony of the 54thKaufland store in Bulgaria, which is also the chain's tenth store in Sofia.

Kaufland, the biggest retail chain operating in Bulgaria, has been granted a EUR 80 M credit line by a World Bank affiliate to open 10 more branches in smaller towns.

A Bulgarian fast food chain, Aladin Foods, is setting foot in Romania, according to its owner, Khaled Kharfan.

In Kharfan's words, as cited by the Bulgarian Economy magazine, the expansion program starts in Bucharest, with three other towns to follow, including the border town of Giurgiu.

The modern retail outlets in Bulgaria continue to increase their market share, on the account of the small independent stores, shows a GfK survey, quoted by Dnevnik.bg.

In 2007 the modern retail outlets, such as super- and hypermarkets, held 42% of the FMCG sales, while in 2011 their share reached 55%.

The Competition Protection Commission (CPC) has imposed a BGN 500 000 worth fine on Kaufland for arguing it offers "the lowest prices" in an advertisement.

An inspection carried out by the CPC shows products in the chain stores have largely the same prices as those of competitors, the commission says on its website.