Bulgarian bakers propose three solutions for bread price stability

Mariana Kukusheva, chair of the National Association of Bakers, has proposed three strategic approaches to ensure food security and maintain affordable bread prices in Bulgaria.

The first option involves maintaining a free market driven by competition. Kukusheva warned that excessive administrative pressure through new regulations and registries could inadvertently increase costs and prices. The second option is the implementation of state-regulated bread prices.

The third proposal is the reinstatement of a zero percent VAT rate on bread. Kukusheva noted that the zero VAT rate previously helped mitigate the grey economy and provided long-term stability, stating that bread was the only food item that did not change its delivery price over a five-year period. She emphasized that the bakery industry cannot bear the full burden of price stability alone due to varying production costs, logistics, and technological needs.