For the past few years, craft brewers have been developing strongly in Bulgaria and 2016 saw consumer interest in craft beer increase further. Over the course of the year, the main focus of consumers and producers was on the quality and packaging of ...

As the popularity of cider has increased dramatically in Bulgaria in the last few years, one of the strongest players in the country’s alcoholic drinks market and the second leading player in beer, Zagorka AD, decided to expand its portfolio with the...

2016 saw outstanding growth in beer, which had a positive effect on overall growth rates in alcoholic drinks in Bulgaria. Growth was due mainly to rising consumer demand for experiencing new and interesting tastes, with the evidence for this the ...

During 2016, the only category in RTDs/high-strength premixes which recorded positive growth was wine-based RTDs. Sales of wine-based RTDs are benefiting from the growing trend coming from Italy for drinking refreshing, low-ABV fruity wines during ...

Whiskies has emerged strongly as a favourite among Bulgarian consumers in recent years, although sales in the category are strongly seasonal. Sales of whiskies start growing during October and November, reaching their peak during the holiday season ...

The quality of Bulgarian wine improved noticeably over the course of 2016. In recent years, with the support of EU funds, many wine producers in Bulgaria have made relatively high invest in the establishment of small, boutique wineries, which has ...

Bulgaria’s economy will continue to grow at a solid pace in 2017. A pickup in public investment and steady gains in private final consumption provide most of the support for the economy. Exports are an important component of the economy but will see ...

Despite the high maturity cat food in Bulgaria, the category is set to continue to see strong current value growth in 2017, driven by cat population growth and the rising demand for pouches and treats in the mid-priced and premium segments. In ...

The premiumisation trend developed significantly in the review period. Dog owners became increasingly savvy about nourishment and healthy diets for their pets. The growing popularity of the premium segment was supported by a stable economic ...

Small mammal food is benefiting from the growing demand for smaller pets that require less living space, are easier to care for and are child-friendly. Children are a key influence on the decision to keep pets at home. Hollywood films and cartoons ...

Growing awareness of the needs of individual pets and owners' desire to indulge their animals and consider them as family members have made the industry increasingly pet-centric. From accessories to food, the industry focused on functionality, health...

Internet retailing’s rapid development as a preferred distribution channel for pet products is expected to have a significant impact on category growth in 2017. Film and cartoons also play a powerful trendsetting role in terms of pet humanisation and...

In 2016, operators in the channel faced increased competition from regular restaurants and fast food outlets offering deliveries on the side. Research shows that in one key area – speed of delivery – the huge gap which existed between channel ...

In 2016, cafés/bars received a strong boost from tourism. The total number of tourists jumped a huge 20% to a record 5.1 million, according to the Statistical Office, with double-digit growth registered in each month compared to the previous year. ...

In 2016, a strong inflow of tourists boosted demand in consumer foodservice in Bulgaria and operators raised prices. The combined result of these two factors led to high sales growth (highest since 2003). While this growth spread across all ...

Price hikes were a key trend in fast food in 2016. Operators, particularly in the large categories like burger fast food, bakery products fast food and chicken fast food increased prices visibly. This move was led entirely by operators of ...

A sharp and relatively sudden upswing in tourist visits to Bulgaria boosted sales at full-service restaurants. In 2016, the total number of tourists arriving in the country hit an all-time high of five million, up 20% from the previous year. The ...

2016 was a great year for consumer foodservice in Bulgaria, with revenues shooting up significantly over the previous year and in comparison with the review period. The strong performance in 2016 reflected expanding demand in the country, a number of...

Cafeterias in Bulgaria typically target two different consumer groups – pensioners and young migrants and students from less developed areas of the country (aged 15 to 35) earning middle to low wages, usually employed in administrative and support ...

The key story in 2016 was that municipal governments in Bulgaria’s large towns – Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas – made concentrated efforts to reduce the number of street stalls and kiosks. Among those particularly affected were vendors operating ...