In May 2021, the Enterprise Europe Network team at the International Economic Relations Center to the Bulgarian Industrial Association conducted a campaign to promote Bulgarian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that seek to bring about positive change in the food sector. The campaign encouraged SMEs to compete globally in the United Nations (UN) Best Small Business: Good Food for All competition. As a result, our UN partners informed us that 2,000 companies from 135 countries applied for the competition, and 11 small companies from Bulgaria participated. Bulgarian initiatives are distinguished not only by participation, but we are proud of the success of "Blagichka" - the first Bulgarian restaurant with zero waste, which is among the 50 winners of the competition (https://blagichka.com/). The winners will share a prize pool of $100,000.
"Blagichka - ZERO WASTE" is not just the first restaurant with zero waste in Bulgaria. The restaurant provides an opportunity for work and realization of disadvantaged young people. This is the place that unites the love for food and the preparation of quality and delicious things and the belief that young people are the most important wealth that our society has and should invest in. At "Blagichka" they believe that eating is a ritual that brings us happiness and energy, that giving a chance to disadvantaged young people is their mission and that every effort not to throw away waste pays off.
The founder of "Blagichka" Blazhka Dimitrova told us that since its inception the restaurant with zero waste has attracted attention and received many awards and prizes at national and European level, but to receive a global award from the United Nations for them is very important. The award gave them the confidence to know that being in Bulgaria is not a disadvantage, but a mission to be the bearer of change.
In addition to the cash prize, the winners of the competition receive the right to participate in the "Food Systems Summit" organized by the United Nations. The purpose of the meeting is to present the distinguished companies to help world leaders be informed about the priorities and resources that businesses need in this area to develop and thrive. The founder of "Blagichka" Blazhka Dimitrova was chosen to present her vision in a four-minute speech on "How do you involve the community in what you do?". Blazhka Dimitrova shares that the restaurant not only helps the disadvantaged young people employed in it, but has changed their neighborhood (by showing how to compost), and then challenged the whole of Sofia to strive to live, producing zero waste. "Blagichka" Restaurant is a permanent collection point for used sunflower oil, which is donated for bio fuel, and with the funds raised from the donated fuel, the restaurant in turn supports another cause. Anyone who has leftover used sunflower oil can donate it to "Blagichka" and thus become part of their community.
At the International Economic Relations Center to the Bulgarian Industrial Association we are happy to announce that in addition to "Blagichka" there is another Bulgarian winner - the Bulgarian vegan restaurant Edgy Veggy (https://edgyveggy-sofia.com/), which is among the selected 150 semifinalists.