Inter Food Company - SERRAΪKI - THRAKIKI ALLANTOVIOMICHANIA

The idea of the project is to promote cross-border cooperation between two existing enterprises from Bulgaria and Greece (towns of Blagoevgrad and Serres) in the field of the food industry. A Greek producer (Project Beneficiary) - a producer of meat products and one enterprise from Bulgaria (lead Beneficiary), with main activity- import, trade and distribution of food products, will cooperate. The two enterprises will carry out joint activities for the purpose of producing and selling traditional meat products, which will provide access to new markets. Within the framework of the project investments will be made in new machinery and equipment at the Greek producer, construction of a new logistics center for temporary storage and subsequent distribution of the products on the territory of Bulgaria. Costs for the implementation and certification of a quality management system, in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001 of the project beneficiary, and project management costs for the Greek beneficiary are included.

Once the investment is implemented, the economic climate in the cross-border region will be improved, the participating enterprises will have easy access to key markets and a broader customer base. Fixed tangible assets for the Greek partner – machinery and equipment, which will contribute to the expansion of the production capacity and construction works for the Bulgarian partner, which will build capacity for temporary storage and distribution of the produced products. In order to facilitate cooperation and achieve sustainable partnership in the long term, the following investments and costs are envisaged, combined in the most effective way to achieve the  expected results. Within the enterprise, a project beneficiary will invest in the following machines and equipment: delivery, installation and commissioning of a Slice cutting machine and a Packaging machine.

The  idea of this investment is to respond to consumer demand and to user attitudes and changes in public awareness. In order to reduce production costs, an investment is planned for a new gas-fired boiler and installation to replace the fuel oil. To improve the processes in the company and to achieve the efficiency of the whole enterprise, it is envisaged to introduce, implement and certify a Quality Management System in accordance with the internationally recognized standard ISO 9001. A subsequent natural step in the development of the project is the construction of a logistics base on the territory of an available land in Simitli of the leading beneficiary.
A permit is available for the construction of a new warehouse logistics center to be built within the framework of the project. It will store the meat products produced in Greece. On the territory of the center will be unloaded, repacked the products by number, type and quantity depending on the requirements of the end customers in Bulgaria. The lead beneficiary is committed to the sales of meat products on the territory of Bulgaria and will provide these sales with contracts / orders / request.

As a result of the implementation of the project, it is expected to increase the competitiveness of two existing enterprises - one from Bulgaria and one from Greece, by increasing their sales through a strategic partnership. There will be an opportunity to export traditional Greek meat products outside the country, as well as the opportunity for Bulgarian consumers to consume new food products that are not available on the Bulgarian market. Last but not least, an increase in jobs in both enterprises is expected. A staff working with the new equipment and delivering the new products will be hired. This will be a step in increasing employment in the cross-border region.