The Coca‑Cola System in Bulgaria invests over BGN 100 000 in the small business in the country

The purpose of the campaign “The Neighborhood Shop” is to support the small L&T stores in overcoming the current challenges

The Coca‑Cola System in Bulgaria started an initiative which aims to support the small businesses in the country in overcoming the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first stage of the campaign “The Neighborhood Shop”  will cover over 500 selected stores throughout the country- they will receive an in-kind investment  that will help them develop and upgrade their business. Thus, the store owners will manage to retain their current customers and attract new ones, despite the COVID-19 challenges and economic consequences. In the next few months business developers from Coca‑Cola HBC Bulgaria will support the owners of small stores with their expertise and professional business knowledge in how to make the outlets more attractive for the customers in their neighborhood.

Later in the year we will release the second stage of the project in which another 1000 stores will be included.

Along with the health and safety of the employees, another key priority of the Coca‑Cola System in Bulgaria is the support of the local communities and customers, with which we have been working and have been a trusted business partner for many years now. This campaign is grounded in the values that Coca‑Cola has been incorporating in its business for 55 years in the country- quality, professionalism, responsibility and trust.

The campaign “The Neighborhood Shop”  is part of the efforts of the Coca‑Cola System in Bulgaria to support the local communities in overcoming the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Within this support so far over 140 000 litres of beverages were donated to front-line medical workers in 26 hospitals countrywide, and to 330 elderly people through the social patronage in Kostinbrod and Bankia. And thanks to the partnership with Fantastiko chain, Sofia Municipality and other businesses, a total of 330 socially disadvantaged households received hot lunch.  Since mid-April over 270 pre-paid advertising spaces in the country were donated to the Bulgarian Red Cross for their charity campaign “Together Against COVID-19“.

The Coca‑Cola Foundation supported the initiative “We Are in This Together”, which has raised so far over  BGN 1 000 000 in the fight against the consequences of the pandemic for the most vulnerable groups in the country. Jointly with the initiative “The Neighborhood Shop”   the Coca‑Cola System in Bulgaria has so far contributed with over BGN 724 000 in supporting the Bulgarian communities and the most vulnerable groups.