This year, the production centres of Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria in Kostinbrod and Bankya celebrate 30 and 20 years of operations, respectively

This year, the production centres of Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria in Kostinbrod and Bankya celebrate 30 and 20 years of operations, respectively. Over the past three decades, the company has invested in modernising production, introducing new technologies and developing infrastructure. Yet people remain at the heart of this journey – both the professionals who make up its teams and the communities of which the two sites are an integral part.

What does it take to lead a team of more than 450 people, and why does the development of production go hand in hand with supporting local communities? Chavdar Chorbadzhiyski, Technical Function Director at Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria, shares his perspective with Investor.bg.

Mr Chorbadzhiyski, you have been part of the company for almost 20 years and today lead a team of more than 450 professionals. What is the most challenging aspect of bringing together such diverse functions and people around a common goal?

Alongside the responsibility of leading the Technical Function, I believe it is essential to be able to listen to people. We should never forget that we are all learning every day, regardless of how many years of experience we have. The moment we start believing that we already know everything, life and work are quick to prove us wrong.

Another principle that has always been clear within our organisation is that everything we do starts and ends with our customers and consumers. Our role is to meet their expectations through uncompromising quality, safety and reliability. Without them, we would not exist, and it is important to remind ourselves of this often.

This becomes particularly significant when we consider the scale of the Coca-Cola System in Bulgaria. The companies within the System[1] provide direct employment to more than 3,500 people, support a further 2,040 jobs among their suppliers, and contribute to the creation of 10,900 jobs in sales and distribution. Taken together, this means that last year the System supported 16,500 jobs in Bulgaria. Behind every one of these jobs are people, families and professionals who make a contribution every day. This is why I firmly believe that investing in people will always be our most important investment.

The truth is that I am fortunate to be surrounded by outstanding professionals with tremendous experience. Leading a function of this scale and responsibility is not a one-person job. I am deeply grateful to my team, because it is their dedication, professionalism and commitment that underpin the results we achieve together.

The completion of the new water pipeline for Kostinbrod and Voluyak, funded by Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria, is an investment with a long-term impact both on the local community and on production. How does supporting the people and regions where you operate fit into your sustainability strategy?

Our production centres have been an integral part of Kostinbrod and Bankya for 30 and 20 years, respectively. We cannot grow sustainably if the communities around us do not grow alongside us. That is why we have always viewed our presence as a long-term commitment – both to our production sites and to the communities and environment surrounding them.

The new water pipeline is a good example of this approach. The project represents an investment of €4.1 million and includes the construction of 11.4 kilometres of new water-supply infrastructure. It will provide approximately 2.1 billion litres of water annually to residents of Kostinbrod and Voluyak, as well as to the production centre.

In this way, a single investment strengthens the reliability of the water-supply infrastructure serving both the local community and our production centre. I believe every company has a responsibility to contribute to the environment and communities around it in whatever ways are within its power.

Read the full interview with Chavdar Chorbadzhiyski here.

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