Building a successful business producing healthy products is a challenge. On one hand, competition on this niche market is huge. On the other hand, however, there is a growing interest among clients in natural products and organic food. Bulgarian Atanas Krachmarov knows every bump along the way as he and his family have been part of the business for the manufacture of essential oils and botanic extracts for 21 years.

Bulgaria is among the largest producers of herbs in Europe. Each year, between 15,000 and 17,000 tons of medicinal plants are collected and processed in the country, data of the Bulgarian Association of Herbalists and Mushroom Gatherers and Growers indicate. 80% of the produce is exported to Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic, USA and Asia.

What are the secrets of the production process of domestic entrepreneurs? Atanas and his family implemented a special production system imported from the Netherlands.

“Our production technology has existed for at least 30 years. However, it is extremely expensive in terms of equipment and technological solutions. We use this technology to produce botanical extracts, as the existing technologies cannot produce such extracts", Atanas Krachmarov explains.

Thus, the entrepreneurs are confident that their food and cosmetic products contain essences which do not have adverse effects on human health.

Each year, the family-owned company has been applying for financing under various EU programmes.

“We finished the construction of our essential oil distillery with financing under the Special Accession Programme for Agricultural and Rural Development (SAPARD). We benefitted from these programmes to implement the Dutch technological system in our production process, to buy equipment and implement other agricultural practices”- Atanas Krachmarov notes.

Currently, his family is working on a new project, together with 17 partners from 11 countries. It is financed under the biggest EU research and innovation programme “Horizon 2020” and is of exceptional value for the future of cosmetics industry.

“It aims to develop innovative cosmetic ingredients based on vegetable raw materials. Hopefully, we will be able to cultivate wild geranium, lilac and other plants. The experiments and certification of the new ingredient will continue for four years. Then, we are to propose the inclusion of this ingredient in the manufacture of cosmetic products throughout Europe and the world. ”

All Bulgarian entrepreneurs and producers have been affected by the significant increase of energy prices. Atanas and his family are no exception. So far, his team consisting of 25 employees is not at risk. His company continues to produce botanical extracts and a food supplement containing rose oil. The supplement has a number of beneficial properties and is recommended for the treatment of liver and kidney problems and for hormone balance. The product gained huge popularity on the American and the Chinese markets.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov