Since the beginning of 2025, the Bulgarian Food Bank (BFB) has helped nearly 5,000 people in the Varna and Dobrich regions. Of these, 1600 are children at risk of malnutrition and 1650 are low-income adults who cannot afford three meals a day. In January 2026 alone, 1540 people in need received food. This was made possible thanks to 10 organizations that distributed the food to 52 social services, shelters, and non-governmental organizations.
Plans for 2026 include opening a regional warehouse in the area, expanding the partner network of municipalities and non-governmental organizations, and encouraging food producers in the Northeast to become donors to the Bulgarian Food Bank. This will enable them to reduce food waste and receive tax breaks. Retail outlets can also support the BFB’s mission by participating in the “Kilogram of Kindness” campaign, in which customers donate non-perishable food with the help of volunteers. In 2025, the campaign set a record by collecting over 26 tons of non-perishable food in just one weekend in Sofia.
The overall benefits of food banking also have environmental dimensions. Globally, one-third of the food produced is discarded, leading to additional resource loss. In Bulgaria, around 100 kg of edible food per person is thrown away every year. Against this backdrop, the BFB currently manages to save less than 1% of this amount. By comparison, food banks in Germany and Spain manage to save 17% of surplus food.
The data was announced by Dr. Gavrail Gavrailov, coordinator of “Partnerships and Public Engagement” on the eve of the anniversary of the Bulgarian Food Bank. Fourteen years after its inception, the BFB remains the only active food banking organization in the country. Despite its excellent results to date, the organization faces new difficulties and challenges that threaten its daily work and its ability to effectively fulfill its social mission. A major problem remains the lack of sufficient storage space in Sofia, which threatens to disrupt the regular receipt of food donations from businesses.
In 2025, the BFB set a number of records. A total of 87 941 people were supported during the year. In partnership with 338 organizations, programs, and social services across the country, 482 568 kg of food products were distributed. Such annual results have never been achieved before in the history of the bank.
BHB continued to build its organizational capacity. This was recognized by the successful audit conducted by the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) in early November 2025. The bank also confirmed its membership in the European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA). Over the past year, the bank’s team has grown, with 58 new partner organizations, programs, and services joining. These include, for example, the Social Welfare Service in the municipality of General Toshevo and the St. Archangel Michael Church in Varna. In 2025, a total of over 50 tons more food was distributed throughout the country compared to the previous year. In 2025 a total of over 50 tons more food was distributed across the country compared to the previous year. These food products reached over 5000 new people in need in different regions of the country.
In 2026, the Bulgarian Food Bank continues its commitment to support those most in need of food assistance. Every second Bulgarian over the age of 65 still does not eat a balanced diet. Every third child in the country does not eat regularly, which often leads to the risk of dropping out of school. In 2025 the Bulgarian Food Bank managed to support 23 686 Bulgarians over the age of 65 and 33 952 children and young people with food donations.
