COCA-COLA HBC BULGARIA WON THE AWARD "BEST FMCG PRODUCER" IN THE FIFTH EDITION OF THE PROGRESSIVE AWARDS COMPETITION

The company also won an award for "Best New Product - Alcohol", in partnership with Brown-Forman Bulgaria

Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria once again managed to win first place in two categories at the fifth edition of the prestigious PROGRESSIVE AWARDS 2023 competition, which aims to distinguish successful companies and brands from the FMCG industry. The categories in which the company earned well-deserved recognition are Best FMCG Manufacturer and Best New Product - Alcohol, in partnership with Brown-Forman Bulgaria for the innovation Finlandia Botanical Wildberry & Rose.

Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria deserved the award for "Best FMCG Manufacturer" in a contested competition with companies - manufacturers of consumer goods, operating on the Bulgarian market in both modern and traditional trade, having realized a turnover of at least BGN 10 million in 2022. Among the criteria for winning the award are the dynamics of sales on an annual basis, the newly added brands in the portfolio, the number of outlets offering the companies' portfolio, the contribution to the development of the categories in which they operate, as well as the marketing campaigns that contributed to achieving the best results in the past year.

The economic contribution of the Coca-Cola System in Bulgaria is equivalent to 0.5% of the country's GDP in 2022, with every BGN 1 spent on Coca-Cola beverages resulting in BGN 0.75 in revenue for Bulgaria. The company is also keeping ahead of its sustainability commitments, reporting a 30% reduction in direct carbon emissions and the fact that 100% of all Coca-Cola product packaging is now recyclable.

"On behalf of Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria, thank you for the award! It is yet another recognition of the efforts and dedication of our entire team. As the largest soft drink manufacturer in the country, we never stop growing and strive to offer our consumers a 24/7 portfolio that provides them with every drink they need. At the same time, we insist that every part of our business is built sustainably to be efficient both today and in the future, said Emil Kolev, the company’s Bankya Plant Manager, and added: "We are delighted that at the beginning of 2023, we took another step towards our vision of a 'World Without Waste' by introducing the new tethered closures for our entire soft drinks portfolio, making it easier to collect and recycle whole packings. All of this gives us even more incentive for the future - to set ever more ambitious goals for our shared sustainable tomorrow."

The new Finlandia Botanical Wildberry & Rose also brought first place for Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria and Brown-Forman Bulgaria, in the category "Best New Product - Alcohol". The product meets consumers with the best of Finnish nature combined with the rich aroma of wild berries and the delicate scent of garden rose. The innovative new brand taps into the current consumer trend for lower alcohol beverages, free from sugar, artificial colours and flavours, and is a bridge between the world of gin and vodka.

The winners of this year's fifth edition of the PROGRESSIVE AWARDS were awarded after a month and a half of voting among 12,500 executives from companies in the fast-moving industry, part of the PROGRESSIVE magazine's database.