For the thirteenth consecutive year, the competition "Best Bulgarian Company of the Year" honored companies that stand out with successful, sustainable and innovative business practices.
This year, the focus of the competition was our country's accession to the eurozone – a special group of new indicators assessed the extent to which enterprises are prepared to turn the challenge into an opportunity.
„Linkin“ Ltd. – a leading manufacturer of PVC and aluminum profiles, won first place in the “Medium and large company“ category. The Plovdiv company, which developed the “Profilink” brand, is an example of a successful Bulgarian industrial business with a family history. Among the large companies, another company from Plovdiv was also awarded – Bulteks 99 Ltd. – a leader in the production and sales of professional protective workwear and personal protective equipment. ZIV Ltd., one of the largest domestic producers of sugar and chocolate products, also won a prize in the category, with branded stores throughout the country and a large-scale production infrastructure in Varna.
Another Varna company - Balev Corporation - was awarded the prestigious audience award in the competition. In addition to being a large-scale manufacturer and exporter to 90 countries of high-end car and home air fresheners under the popular brand "Areon", Balev Corporation is also an importer and distributor of organic products and natural foods, and has its own chain of stores and cafes "BalevBio Market".
The winner in the "Micro and Small Company" category was Dinas AD - a Sliven company for the extraction and processing of the rare raw material quartzite, used for refractory materials in construction and foundry. Its runners-up are the Varna company 4M Energy OOD, specializing in the design, construction and maintenance of electrical systems and facilities, and Global Tuber - a company from Targovishte, which is engaged in the purchase and processing of truffles, wild mushrooms and berries.
The award for female entrepreneurship went to Antonia Panayotova-Pavlova, owner and manager of “Tonis Décor”, which has been selling furniture and decoration for the home and office for 20 years. Since 2019, over 40,000 products from top brands and finds from all over the world can be found in the online store of ”Tony’s Décor”.
For another year, the interest in the initiative of First Investment Bank was great - nearly 300 companies from all over the country participated in the competition. The jury of the competition includes established professionals and opinion leaders such as Nikola Bakalov – CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fibank, financier Emil Harsev, sociologist Kancho Stoychev – Chairman of the Union “Made in Bulgaria“, Venelina Gocheva – owner and manager of “Media Group Bulgaria“.
The main criteria for selecting the winners include sustainable growth, stable market positions, innovative approach and successful brand building at the national and international level. Only companies with Bulgarian capital, representing a domestic brand, can participate in the competition.