A 141% markup. Seriously?

In this week’s Buzz:

• Where can I get a tetanus shot in the local area?

• Monument planned for mountaineer from Bansko

• Balkan festival at White Stage this coming weekend

• Consumer watchdog considers sanctions on retailers hiking prices

• Speak Bulgarian Social Club on Friday

• Black Sea attacks push Bulgaria to seek NATO assistance

• Bulgarian presidential and vice-presidential elections next Sunday (25th)

Bulgaria’s consumer watchdog considers sanctions over excessive supermarket food markups

This week, the Bulgarian Consumer Protection Commission (known as CPCo or KZP) announced they are considering sanctions against several retailers (supermarkets) for selling food products with significant markups.

Notable examples included a 141% markup on butter, 133% on white brine cheese, 127% on tomatoes, 106% on onions, and 99% on yoghurt. Now, I’m all for a business providing a service and making a profit, but anything over 50% markup for a supermarket seems a bit much (the average markup for supermarkets is 30-50% [data]).

There’s more too: when wholesale prices fell by around 14%, shop prices rose by 59%. Cheeky!

This comes on the back of a story in last week’s Buzz about three supermarket brands all being fined the maximum fines possible by the KZP due to deceptive practices: one supermarket had a promotion on butter, but throughout the promotion period this brand of butter wasn’t available to buy (some sources speculate the supermarket chain was Billa).

So it’s no wonder the government announced earlier this month that it was planning a central registry to track all food prices in the country. A good move to put consumers in the driving seat to choose where spend their money.

However, there’s also something else when it comes to comparing supermarket prices in Bulgaria with the rest of the EU because of how VAT is calculated. Bulgaria applies the full 20% VAT charge to food prices, compared to 7% in Germany, 5.5% in France, and around 5% on staple foods in Poland and Spain. What is it in the UK? Mostly 0% VAT on basic groceries and cold food (if it’s hot food or takeaway, then it’s 20%). Makes you wonder if it’s the usual smoke and mirrors when it comes to governments being a significant cause of the issue they’re trying to solve. 🤦 

If the price index/database becomes a reality, I’ll let you know in the Buzz as soon as it’s published. It’ll then be interesting to see what supermarket brands are included. My guess is it’ll just be the big ones, including Lidl, Billa, and T Market in the local area (through central pricing links).

Read the full article here and the story about the fines here.

Altspace Coworking: Work. Thrive. Belong.

Our community bridges the gap between the local Bansko community and working online. We bring people together by challenging each other on Side Hustle Day, enjoying dinner at a local restaurant, painting & sipping wine, or talking about everything and nothing at Friday Beers.

Join a community and coworking space that offers the right work-life balance.

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Inside the Bansko Notice Board Group

✍️ 62 New Posts, 💬 162 Comments, 👍️ 661 Reactions

Does anyone know of a washing machine technician?
Fez posted looking for a local technician who knows their way around washing machines. A few people commented on where there is one and whether it’s worth repairing.

Just arrived in Bansko and looking to connect with people
Gege has arrived in Bansko and wants to know the best places to meet people, build social connections, and learn more about the local community. There were a few suggestions.

Where can I get a tetanus shot in Bansko or Razlog?
Letti wants to get a tetanus vaccine locally and wondered where people recommend. A few people had some suggestions.

Bansko & Beyond

Continued modernisation of street infrastructure
The local municipality shared photos of progress improving street infrastructure in Dobrinishte and the lower end of Bansko, around Billa. It’s always good to see new developments, but it would be better if those improvements in Bansko could head up the hill a bit. Some roads feel like you need a 4×4 or a JCB to drive on them. Read more.

Medals galore for local taekwondo club
Four members of the local Hawk Taekwondo Club in Bansko competed in the Pleven Cup. They walked away with one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. Great to see young people competing and winning in sports they train hard for. Read more.

Monument planned for mountaineer from Bansko
The local municipality has decided to erect a monument on Gotse Delchev Street for the mountaineer and long-time academic and coach, Prof. Dimitar Bardarev. Bardarev was from Bansko and had extensive experience mountaineering, including being part of the famous 1984 Bulgarian Everest expedition. Read more. [Translation required.]

Other news stories
Here are a handful of other news stories you may find interesting:

• Four vice-presidential candidates in Bulgaria worked for Communist-era secret service

• Black Sea attacks push Bulgaria to seek NATO assistance

• Illegal connection to the electric grid discovered at private property in Bansko [Translation required]

• NRA seals Sofia restaurant after finding 11 violations and unrecorded sales

• Burgas gets €4.8 million for Eurovision 2027 preparations

Recommended Businesses

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Want to know about upcoming businesses opening, early rumours (that turn out to be true), and a bit more insight into what’s happening in Bansko? Join The Beehive. Learn more.

Shop online & receive packages delivered to Bansko with GGBG. Regular journeys from the UK, Germany and the USA to Bulgaria. See website for info.

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Events Next Week

Bansko Run Club
On Tuesday (20th), meeting at 6.30pm at Altspace Central location on Gotse Delchev Street, have a run with others around town, covering a distance of 5km and finishing up at a local bar. More info.

Balkan Fest Bansko
On Friday (23rd), Saturday (24th), and Sunday (25th), join others from 12noon to 6pm for a Balkan music festival bringing together music, talent, and good mood at the White Stage (on the way to Banya). More info.

Speak Bulgarian Social Club
On Friday (23rd), starting at 6pm, Anita’s Art Studio is hosting their weekly Speak Bulgarian Social Club meetup at their place on Otets Paisiy Street. They offer a relaxed and friendly gathering with wine and interesting conversation. More info.

Soap Making and Wine Workshop
On Saturday (24th), Anita’s Art Studio will host a glycerin soap-making workshop with wine. The studio is located on Otets Paisiy Street. A great way to spend an evening making a unique soap for home or as a gift. More info.

Observations of the Night Sky
On Saturday (24th) from 7.30pm to 10.30pm, join the team from Planetarium, Telescopes under Dark Skies to study the night sky. Their powerful Dobson reflector telescope will allow you to see the double stars near Polaris (including the mountains, craters, and seas on the Moon), Saturn (with its famous ring), and the Pleiades star cluster. More info.

Ecstatic Dance: The Dance of Freedom (Razlog)
Next Sunday (25th) from 7.30pm at Studio ETHER in Razlog, join Anna and the team for an evening of dancing, opening your heart, and allowing yourself to be free (not only on the dance floor, but also in life). Price (“energy exchange”) is €20. More info.

Digital Entrepreneurship Training Course
From next Sunday (25th) to Tuesday 3rd of November, GECE is running a digital entrepreneurship training course for individuals aged 20 to 35 in Bansko. This is for residents of Bulgaria who want to develop their skills and adopt some practical tools to use in their work with young people. (An Erasmus+ course fully funded by the European Union.) More info.

Organising an event in or around Bansko? Submit it for consideration here.

Photo of the Week

Autumnal colours across the mountains.

Follow @banskobuzz on Instagram.

Before You Go…