FEDERATION
OF CONSUMERS IN BULGARIA
IN-FOOD QUALITY
2008-1-PT1-LEO05-00412
Final meeting - September 2010
Pavel Karlev – Executive Secretary
Emil Georgiev - Regional Chairman
HOW THE REGION AND THE
COMPANIES HAVE BEEN CHOSEN
FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE
PROJECT
The Federation of Consumers in Bulgaria (FCB) was established
on 10 May 1990 and was registered as a non-profit association
with the aim of organized protection of consumer rights and
interests of the Bulgarian consumers.
Since 1991 FCB is Member of Consumer International (CI).
 FCB has structures in 23 regional centres and one of the most
active is the Regional Union of Consumers in Haskovo.
 Furthermore, the region of Haskovo is with strongly developed
food industry in Bulgaria. In Haskovo region there are more than
30 companies, whose activity is related to food industry: bread
and confectionary, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, canned
food industry, slaughterhouses, meet processing.
 After detailed analysis of technological condition and desire for
participation in the project four firms were selected as follows:
- From 15 regional companies in the sphere of bread and
confectionary “Hlebna promishlenost” – Harmanli was selected;
HOW THE REGION AND THE
COMPANIES HAVE BEEN CHOSEN
FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE
PROJECT
- from 5 companies, producing alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks “Stil
plus” Haskovo was selected;
- from 3 slaughterhouses “Moni mes” was selected;
- from 6 companies, dealing with meet processing “Nolev” Haskovo
was selected.
 The four companies have HACCP system, but the knowledge of the
managing personnel and especially the workers is general. In the four
companies measures for protection and individual means for hygiene
are not strictly observed. All that was found out during the first audit.
PRESENTATION OF THE SELECTED
COMPANIES
“HLEBNA PROMISHLENOST" JSC
"Hlebna promishlenost"Jsc is enterprise from food industry, producing bread and
confectionary.
The company is situated on area of 15,4 d., on this territory there are three basic work shops
for the different kinds of production. They are: “Bread production” workshop, “Breakfast”
workshop, “Confectionery” workshop.
The company has the potential to maintain HACCP system, moreover is approved with the
quality sign of FCB.
PRESENTATION OF THE SELECTED
COMPANIES
“STIL PLUS”LTD
The factory for non-alcoholic drinks and mineral water of “Stil plus” Ltd has
long tradition in the production of these kinds of products - over 150 different
kinds of non-alcoholic drinks and mineral water.
The production halls take 8 000 m2 of the area, and the administrative building
is 3 000 m2.
The production process is accomplished under constant control by own
laboratory and under observation of Regional Inspection of Protection and
Control of Health.
PRESENTATION OF THE SELECTED
COMPANIES
“Nolev” Ltd
The company was established in June, 1992. It works in the sphere of: production and
trade of all types of meat and meat preparations of pork and beef.
It produces all types of sausages for prompt consumption, minced meat, sausages, oblong
rissoles, meat balls, durable boiled-smoked meats and sausages and all types of raw dried
sausages.
Annually the company participates in specialized exhibitions in Sunny Beach, related to
supplies of hotels at the seaside. It is specialized in the production of semi-prepared
products and half-finished products, necessary for the hotel industry.
It supplies 30 hotel in “Sunny beach” resort complex.
PRESENTATION OF THE SELECTED
COMPANIES
Moni Mes LTD
The slaughterhouse for red meat “Moni mes” is a new, licensed and meeting the
contemporary requirements meet production company, which is in accordance with the
European standards for quality and control of production. The slaughterhouse was built
according to project, approved and granted by SAPARD programme.
The production – pork meat and meat of small rumination animals is intended for
sausage workshops, specialized shops and super markets. The company possesses large
refrigerating base for meat and sub products storing, also own specialized transport for
alive animals, cooled or refrigerated meat.
All systems /DPP, DHP, HACCP, system for tracing of the ready product, for production
and offering of quality and safe food products according to the European regulations,
are established and function in “Moni mes” slaughterhouse.
MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT

In the four companies were performed preliminary audit by check lists and
questionnaires provided specifically for the project.

After the first audit and the training carried out, great positive change of
all normative documents, change in the behaviour of workers and strong
interest in the Food quality sign is observed.

After the research an interest for participation of major companies has
occurred.

A training of the representatives-managers and workers of the selected
companies was provided directly to them.

The training was performed within the premises of the separate
companies, however there was one seminar along with all of the
representatives from the different companies.
TRAINING SEMINARS
RESULTS AND FEEDBACK
RECEIVED FROM STAKEHOLDERS

The materials, translated into Bulgarian and the slides, elaborated for
them, were given to all target groups on CD.

In some cases a special problems were discussed: « Hlebna
promishlenost » JSC – Harmanli and « Stil plus » Ltd – Haskovo turned to us to
discuss problems which have arisen during the process.

In some cases representatives of managers visited our office to discuss
further some themes from the training.

The four companies, included in the project started preparation to
obtain the Food safety sign at soonest , to mark their producis.

The team also prepared separate brochure to disseminate the project.
The four companies gave information for thier history, the activity of the
company and pictures, which will be included in the brochure.
CONFERENCE IN HASKOVO
CITY - 29.03.2010
• At the conference participated the representatives of all partners in
the project - Portugal, Spain, Romania and Slovakia.
• At these meetings we exchanged experience and know-how
with the partners from Portugal, Spain, Rumania, Slovakia.
• At the meeting were discussed the monitoring instruments,
especially the general indicators for success, planing and
development of the activities of the project.
• At the end of the semminar a pressconference took place
which was casted through the local media.
CONFERENCE IN HASKOVO
CITY - 29.03.2010
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
• We introduced to the society the project by three press conferences including one
with all partners of the project at the meeting in Haskovo.
• We also made interviews with separate members of the team on radio and
television. Such a project is being developed for the first time in Bulgaria.
• For this reason companies and consumers show interest.
• In this relation there are inquiries in FCB for the further development of the project.
• We prepare brochure in order to describe the realization of the project, its aims and
achievements.
• Four press conferences were performed related to the project.
PRESS CONFERENCES
STABILITY OF THE PROJECT
AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
At the end of the project, a second audit was performed into the four companies
The results of the audit have shown that the registered deviation from the good product practice
were not more than three.
The interest toward the project have been increased, specifically of the possibility in marking the
products with the quality sign of the project.
Five more new firms are ready to get involved in the project activities. Such as:
- Matev Company, Malevo region - meat products
- Hlebozavod Trakia, Haskovo - bread and pastry
- Hlebozavod, Dimitrovgrad - bread and pastry
- “Bolyarka” Ltd., Gorna Oryahovitza - waffles and chocolate products
CONCLUSIONS
The systematic work with the companies improves the
consumer satisfaction related to the high quality food. The FCB will continue the
partnership with the companies involved in the project in order to improve their
production, while helping them to meet all the requirements.
Thank you for
your attention!