In the Year of the Water Rabbit, associated with longevity, peace, and prosperity, the retail chain Minimart, whose symbol is an adorable green bunny, was launched. These are the sincere wishes invested by the team of "BGC" AD, which stands behind the project. Just nine months after the start of the project, the chain has 40 grocery stores in Sofia and Plovdiv. Without unnecessary modesty, the people at Minimart claim to be making history in the sphere of rapid retail expansion.
Dragiya Dragiev, CEO, shares:
"We knew we were facing a huge challenge, creating a Bulgarian chain based on our own partnership model, standardizing various establishments with their individual specificities into grocery stores of uniform standards. Our ambition was to achieve expansion in the first year comparable to what competitors in the retail industry achieve after several years of work. Our team proved that it's possible and it's a fact - we concluded the year 2023 as a chain with 40 stores - 30 in Sofia and 10 in Plovdiv. December will be remembered for us, as we managed to open 10 new stores."
Angel Petkaneshkov, CFO, reveals the specifics of building a chain "from scratch" in an extremely short time
"We needed efficient processes that would combine the characteristics of managing small stores and large retail chains. Rapid expansion is possible only if processes are managed by a flexible and adaptive IT system, so infrastructure had to be built in an extremely short period to connect the stores, set up ERP systems and cash software, establish a direct connection with the bank to achieve one of the fastest card payments in the market with a single receipt. At the same time, integration with an external Logistic Center had to be established. At the start of operations, we also implemented a BI (Business Intelligence) system based on real data in the ERP system, which allows informed management decisions to be made."
Joro Dimitrov, Expansion Director, outlines the plans for 2024
"We plan to open 110 new stores and end the year with 150 working locations. To fulfill this exceptionally ambitious program, unprecedented in Bulgaria, we will enter new cities - Pazardzhik, Pernik, Stara Zagora, Asenovgrad, Burgas, and others. We will also expand the chain in Sofia and Plovdiv with 50 stores. Our successful format is commercial spaces of 50 - 130 sq.m., located in busy commercial and transport hubs, in central urban areas and predominantly residential locations. We are experiencing great interest from potential lessors, aiming to respond with а view of the premises within 1 or 2 days. Speed is of great importance to us."
Peter Petrov, HR Director, talks about the unique partnership model
"Minimart has an innovative model for managing commercial properties through Partners. We rely on the entrepreneurial spirit and ambitions of the candidate to independently manage a grocery store. The partner recruits their own team, manages their time, and earns income entirely tied to the results achieved by the store. With good results and motivation, one can develop a network and manage up to 3 Minimart stores within 12 months. We invest in training Partners through a specially developed program and manuals. We also provide operational support with a team of trainers and experienced regional managers. Our application process is very simple - just 2 interviews. The Minimart model is for people for whom retail is a passion, who value each customer and have an individual approach to them. That's why our stores are the "heart of the neighborhood".
