Bulgaria’s parliamentary budget committee has approved a plan to create a state-owned chain of stores selling only Bulgarian-made products.
The proposal, put forward by the DPS-New Beginning political party, would see the Ministry of Agriculture and Food oversee the BGN 10 million (€5.11 million) venture, according to the BTA news agency.
The ministry would also be the owner of the still-unnamed chain.
The stores would focus on food and essential goods, applying a maximum 10% markup, with the aim of reducing prices for consumers by shortening the supply chain, similar to models seen in Germany and France.
According to the justification accompanying the proposed 2025 state budget revisions, establishing a state-run network of grocery stores with regulated sourcing and pricing is crucial for the government to combat price-gouging by resellers, chains and cartels.
This initiative aims to protect consumer buying power and ensure access to high-quality, reasonably priced food, especially in smaller, more remote communities.
Retail Boycott Continues
Meanwhile, the organisers of recent retail chain boycotts, including boycotts of foreign chains every Thursday, announced further action until food prices are significantly lowered.
Maya Manolova, head of the Stand Up.BG civic organisation, characterised the boycotts as essential civil pressure to force the government and parliament to enact effective price-reducing measures.
Manolova has urged the Minister of Agriculture and Food to release the draft agricultural food chain bill, demanding genuine strategies to curb intermediaries, resellers, and inflated prices throughout the food supply chain.
State Protection
Elsewhere, the Bulgarian Agrifood Chamber has called on the government for intervention to protect local food producers, citing a market situation harmful to both producers and consumers.
It warned of a decline in Bulgarian agricultural production, especially in livestock farming and fruit/vegetable production.
Vladislav Mihaylov, chair of the Dairy Processors’ Association, highlighted the market dominance of a few large international retailers, advocating for regulations to ensure market access for Bulgarian producers.
The chamber is pushing for measures including state standards for key foods, the alignment of import standards with domestic standards, strict controls, increased price transparency, mechanisms to promote Bulgarian products in stores, and the development of shorter supply chains.
Via ESM