The development of small business in Bulgaria is accompanied by serious structural obstacles that often force entrepreneurs to seek alternatives abroad. These conclusions are shared by Nikolay Angelov, co-founder of the food brand tigre-tigre, which offers a version of Asian chili crunch sauce adapted to the European palate.
Although the project began as a side hobby for an IT specialist, it quickly turned into a sought-after product. Despite the demand, Angelov points to several critical areas that hinder small companies in the country:
- Production Deficits: A lack of suitable machinery and established processes, as well as the reluctance of large manufacturers to work with small clients.
- Logistics and Damages: Problems with courier services and high costs for compensating damaged goods, which is unbearable for small capital.
- Administrative Environment: Complex regulations, labeling requirements, certification, and packaging that require significant financial resources even before sales begin.
According to Angelov, the lack of entrepreneurial culture and limited access to capital make business sustainability in Bulgaria extremely difficult. This leads to a logical decision for many companies – moving production abroad. In the case of tigre-tigre, the possibility of production in Italy is being considered, as at certain volumes this would be more profitable than Bulgarian conditions.
The team's goal is for the product to move out of the niche of festivals and farmers' markets and reach the mass consumer, relying on quality to overcome market barriers.