Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and members of the Cabineta nnounced and handed out the prestigious awards
At an official ceremony on 16 March 2026, the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) announced the winners of the 2025 Annual Responsible Business Awards, the prominent national competition that champions corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, and diversity. Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and Cabinet members handled the prestigious awards to the winners selected amongst 91 inspiring entries with significant social impact, carried out by 60 companies from various sectors across this country.
The official ceremony once again drew an audience of more than 200 guests: top executives of companies that had sent entries, BBLF member companies, civil organisations, public sector officials, jury members, diplomats, and the media. The event included short presentations of all entries, the prize-giving of the winners in the seven categories and the Engage Award, as well as a networking cocktail.
The winners received their awards from Prime Minister Andrey Gurov, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Hasan Ademov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science Acad. Nikolay Vitanov, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Malina Krumova, Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Anton Kostadinov PhD, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) Boyko Takov, who is also Bulgarian OECD National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Sofia Elizabeth Chapman, and Maxim Behar, a long-standing member of the BBLF Board.
At the opening, Levon Hampartzoumian, BBLF Vice President, pointed out the active role of the business and civil sectors in engaging in dialogue with the public sector and setting an example of responsible and sustainable business conduct.
“Bulgaria’s future depends on the responsibility we are all willing to take on today. I am very pleased to be here and to hand out the awards to the very people who set an example, who give back to society, and reinvest their success in the communities,” Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said before announcing the winners in the most competitive category, Investor in Community.
Minister of Labour and Social Policy Hasan Ademov said investment in human capital and working conditions is crucial, as itensures the quality of the workforce and sustainability, and called on to business to partner with the Employment Agency, which enables employees in Bulgarian enterprises to improve their qualifications and competitiveness.
The Annual Responsible Business Awards are a major BBLF project aimed to recognize efficient corporate investment in campaigns with social impact. The Forum’s goal is to encourage best practice and champion campaigns that benefit employees, the environment, and society. Companies from a variety of sectors and from across this country entered the competition mottoed Lead by Example regardless of BBLF membership. Thus, the Awards provide a big picture of business commitment to social challenges in areas such as education, ecology, culture, sports, healthcare, and support for various social groups. This year’s competition featured 91 entries implemented by 60 companies. An independent jury of renowned experts from the business community, public sector, civil society, academia, and the media selected the winners.
The ceremony was held at Sofia Balkan Palace and hosted by journalist and social entrepreneur Evelina Pavlova. It started with a live performance by members of Quarto Quartet, the statuettes the grand prize winners received were specially crafted for the occasion by artist Nikola Enev, and after the formal part, attendees had the opportunity to greet the honorees and network.
The event was held with the support of gold partners Alaric Securities, Astellas, JTI Bulgaria, DPM Metals, Musala Insurance Broker, Schwarz Digits Bulgaria, and Telematic Interactive; silver partners: Amusnet, Congress Engineering, Lidl Bulgaria, and M3 Communications Group; and partners Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria and Vinex Preslav.
If you missed the high-profile event, feel the upbeat vibe in our video courtesy of M3 Communications Group.
More pictures are available on our Facebook page.
Media coverage: BTA (here and here), Economy.bg, BGlobal, Manager, LIDER.BG, Your Business, NGOBG.Info, Investor, Rodopi24 and more.
Hats off to the 2025 winners:
INVESTOR IN THE COMMUNITY
1. The Coca-Cola System in Bulgaria; 2. Kaufland Bulgaria; 3. Paysafe
INVESTOR IN KNOWLEDGE
1. Devin; 2. IBM Bulgaria; 3. Lidl Bulgaria
INVESTOR IN HUMAN CAPITAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS
1. DPM Krumovgrad; 2. FANTASTICO GROUP; 3. Nestle Bulgaria, 3. METRO Bulgaria
INVESTOR IN THE ENVIRONMENT
1. JTI; 2. Devin; 3. Schneider Electric
CAUSE-RELATED MARKETING
1. FANTASTICO GROUP; 2. dm Bulgari; 3. MSD Bulgaria
BEST SOCIAL POLICY OF SME
1. Astellas; 2. Fest Team; 3. ADDRESS Real Estate
DIVERSITY AT THE WORKPLACE
1. FANTASTICO GROUP; 2. ITX Bulgaria; 3. Latecoere Bulgaria
ENGAGE SPECIAL AWARD
Benefit Systems Bulgaria
Companies that entered the 2025 Annual Responsible Business Awards: Access Drum, Address Real Estate, Agency for Control of Outstanding Debts, Allianz Bulgaria, Amrest Coffee, Amusnet, Astellas Bulgaria, AstraZeneca Bulgaria, Benefit Systems Bulgaria, BTL Industries, BULAUTO, Bulmarket Group, Cargill Bulgaria, Concentrix Bulgaria, DEVIN, dm Bulgaria, DNA Media, DPM Krumovgrad, Electrohold Bulgaria, FANTASTICO GROUP, Fest Team, Generali Insurance, Geya Med Medical Centre, Groupama Insurance, Gugushev & Partners, Hewlett Packard Global Delivery Bulgaria Centre, HOLDING KCM 2000, IBM Bulgaria, IMOTEKA, INFLUENCER.BG, ITX Bulgaria, JTI, Kaufland Bulgaria, KBC Global Services Bulgarian Branch, Latecoere Bulgaria, Lider.BG, Lidl Bulgaria, L'Oréal Bulgaria, Management Financial Group, Merck, Sharp & Dohme Bulgaria (MSD Bulgaria), METRO Bulgaria, Monotes, NDK, Nestle Bulgaria, Paysafe, Pension Assurance Company Doverie, Pluxee Bulgaria, Prestige-96, SAP Labs Bulgaria, Schneider Electric, Schwarz IT, Silver Star, Tavex, Telematic Interactive Bulgaria, The Coca-Cola System in Bulgaria, TRANSPRESS, United Global Services, Vivacom, Womeno, Yettel Bulgaria
