Digitization in production and logistics plays a key role in improving efficiency, the Supply Chain Director at Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria said in front of Manager NEWS
***
Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria is the largest beverage producer in the country. How many beverages does the company produce annually at its two plants in Kostinbrod and Bankia? Also, what investments have you made in the plants in recent years to increase production efficiency and sustainability?
In our two plants, Kostinbrod and Bankia, we produced 411 million litres of beverages in 2023, and this year is another one with a recorded increase in production. Over the past two years, Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria has invested over 20 million BGN in infrastructure projects in our production centres. Today they use 100% renewable electricity. We are also proud of the results we are achieving regarding one of our most valuable resources – water. Over just 13 years, we have managed to reduce water consumption per litre of produced beverage by 43%. In this context, Coca-Cola HBC took another important step in 2024. We have joined the WWF-CEE and the Coca-Cola Foundation “Living Danube” initiative to contribute to the well-being of nature and communities along the Danube River. In addition to Bulgaria, the Danube flows through five other Coca-Cola HBC markets: Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. I believe that our collective actions are crucial for achieving meaningful, large-scale change and improving the well-being of the Danube River basin.
How many people work in Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria's plants and what training and development programs does the company offer to make sure your team is familiar with the most sustainable, modern, and up-to-date methods in production?
Both plants employ 403 colleagues in different roles and with different expertise in manufacturing and logistics.
And I can confidently say that with such team, nothing is impossible for us. We continuously strive to invest in the growth and development of our colleagues. Being among the most preferred employers in the country is a huge responsibility, and we focus on what is best for our team so that the outcome – people wanting to work and grow within our company – happens naturally.
In this regard, we have implemented a Supply Chain Academy program dedicated to every role. All employees are required to complete this program and obtain certification. Additionally, we offer an Operator Development Program, an Advanced Logistics School, and a Supply Chain Planning School to ensure that our team is proficient in the most sustainable, modern, and up-to-date production standard.
The entire interview with Renato Beritić can be found here.
