The Association of Milk Producers in Bulgaria has launched a suit with the Bulgarian competition watchdog over a TV ad featuring a woman with big breasts advertising what they see as "fake cheese". The add in question features a woman presented as Juliet who pulls out a piece of cheese from inside her cleavage and hands it to a guy called Romeo; the cheese, however, is technically called a "milk delicacy" because it contains palm oil. Even though the add does state that the product in question is not cheese, it has enraged the Bulgarian milk producers who are resorting to the Competition Protection Commission and the Council for Electronic Media, a media watchdog. According to the milk producers, the ad misleads the consumers into believing that "fake cheese" is better and healthier than real cheese made of milk, the Standart daily reported. A decision on whether to terminate the broadcasting of the controversial ad could be made only after the watchdogs issue a decision. As of January 1, 2013, dairy farms in Bulgaria are required to produce either milk products only, or only surrogate products containing vegetable fat. They are entitled to switch every six months but are required to notify the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency. According to the producers of milk surrogates, the Juliet ad is fully legal, and does not mislead the consumers in any way as it makes it clear that the product imitates the taste of cheese. The surrogate product in question belongs to the Bulka Cheiz brand of cosmetics producer Ficosota Syntez and was produced at the Milky Lux dairy farm.
Source: Standart (04.01.2013)

Terter, Bulgarea and Bulka cheiz have one thing in common-all of them are brands owned by Ficosota Synthes. The company entered dairy branch in the spring of 2011. Terter is the company’s brand in the highest price segment, Bulgarea in the middle, while Bulka takes the lowest price segment. All three of them demonstrated Ficosota Synthes’ style of imposing new brand through a strong advertising campaign. Expensive cheese category grew by 19% in value and 23% in volume for the period after the release of Terter.
Source: Capital (14.01.2013)

Bulgarian Thermal Power Plant Contur Global Fined over Air Pollution Thermal power plant Maritsa Iztok 3 (ConturGlobal) has been fined slightly over BGN 64 000 by a Bulgarian regional environmental inspectorate over air pollution. The fine imposed on the TPP over sulphur dioxide emissions exceeding admissible levels is mentioned in a report presenting all inspections conducted by Bulgaria's Ministry of Environment and Water in September. According to the report, as cited by investor.bg, the heating utility in the western town of Pernik, Toplofikatsiya – Pernik was also penalized over air pollution for failing to limit unorganized emission concentration of dust. According to the report, heating utilities were not the only source of air pollution. Penalties for such violations were imposed on Veliko Tarnovo-based firm Patni Stroezhi (Road Construction) EOOD, Shumen-based vegetable oil plant "Rosa", and the asphalt facility of Bulgarpatstroi AD near Burgas. The emphasis of the inspections in September was water conservation, according to the Environment Ministry. Penalties over improper wastewater disposal were imposed on the Belovo Paper Mill that has violated the permit for discharge of wastewater and Fikosota Sintez OOD company for disposal of wastewater that has not passed through a treatment plant. In September 2013, Environment Ministry officials inspected over 1500 sites issued 79 statements of offence and 626 instructions on how to deal with irregularities.
Source: investor.bg (28.10.2013)

Seat on the dairy market for sale Postbank (Eurobank EFG Bulgaria) is offering dairy products manufacturer Dyado Lyuben in Koprivshtitsa on a public tender due to non-performing debts. The bank published an announcement specifying the initial bidding price - BGN 5.08 million (VAT not included) - and the deadline to submit offers - November 7, 2013. The company is heavily indebted. According to data in the Commercial Register it owes Postbank EUR 2.5 million.
Source: Capital Dàily (30.10.2013)