Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Red Cross Signed a General Partnership Agreement

BRC President Presented a Plaque in Appreciation of Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria’s Aid Efforts during the Floods in the Country

Today, at a special ceremony, Svetoslav Atanasov, CEO of Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria and Hristo Grigorov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC) signed a General Partnership Agreement aimed at coordinating the two parties’ efforts in developing joint action programmes and projects in case of emergencies, natural disasters, supporting people with disabilities and others. As part of the agreement Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria will provide meals to 50 disadvantaged children from the Sofia district during the 2014/2015 school year under BRC’s Hot Meal programme. The company will cooperate with the BRC within the Care Partner Network programme.

“I would like to thank Mr. Svetoslav Atanasov for Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria’s active cooperation and support of many years. The company has always stood by us in all the hard times Bulgaria has gone through, and I will mention just a few examples of our joint humanitarian work since 2005: the recent floods; the earthquake in Pernik and the flooding in the village of Biser in 2012 ; the Syrian refugees

wave in 2013, etc.,” Hristo Grigorov said at the ceremony. He presented a plaque in appreciation of the company’s support in fighting this year’s floods in Mizia, Byala Slatina, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo and Dobrich. The company repeatedly provided Bankya bottled mineral water to those in need as well as financial assistance which is distributed by the BRC. Employees of the company volunteered in the cleanup and restoration of the affected areas in Varna.

“We are honoured to work side by side with the Bulgarian Red Cross which for 136 years has relieved and prevented human suffering. Promoting humanitarian efforts in the public interest is a value that our company is proud to share with the BRC. I am certain that the Red Cross will continue to help where it is needed, and I assure you, Mr. Grigorov, that Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria will stand by you in this noble mission,” said Svetoslav Atanasov. “We are joining the initiatives of BRC because we do not just provide hot meals to Bulgarian children, but also comfort; we do not just give water to destitute people, but also hope; and not just financial support, but security too. We hope that through our joint efforts we could motivate and inspire other organisations and companies to show compassion to those in need and multiply the do-gooders among Bulgarians,” the CEO of CCHBC Bulgaria said.

BRC’s Care Partner Network was established in 2004 to assist the Bulgarian Red Cross in raising funds for various charities. It brings together 21 companies from the corporate sector. With each partner BRC holds joint social campaigns and used the funds to assist vulnerable groups in Bulgarian society. The Hot Meal programme is implemented within the Care Partner Network. The programme aims to support the physical development of disadvantaged children and bring them back to school. Various campaigns are used to raise funds and finance Hot Meal projects for students across the country. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the project, which to date has provided free meals to over 8,000 children.

Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria is the largest soft drink producer in the country which holds the exclusive right to bottle products of The Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria started its operations in Bulgaria in 1992. The company has invested more than BGN 500 million in the Bulgarian economy since its inception. The head office is located in Sofia. The company has two bottling plants and nine distribution centers throughout the country. A responsible employer of more than 1,000 people, CCHBC Bulgaria creates jobs for 8 more natural and legal persons, receiving income as partners, suppliers and customers. The company is part of Coca-Cola Hellenic Group, one of the largest bottlers of products of The Coca-Cola Company in the world and the largest in Europe.