Interview | The IFS certificate shows an objective assessment of the performance of a food business
As an IFS certified wholesaler, METRO Bulgaria gains a competitive advantage in the market
Dobrina Marcheva, QA Manager at METRO Bulgaria:

© ECONOMIC.BG / METRO
Dobrina Marcheva has been an integral part of the METRO Bulgaria team for over 14 years. Today, she is a QA (Quality Assurance) manager in the company, monitoring whether the offered goods meet quality requirements. We spoke with Ms Marcheva about the topic of quality, the company's commitment to offering high-quality products and the benefits that an IFS certificate provides.
Ms Marcheva, the issue of food quality and safety is always relevant. But why are IFS certificates important and how exactly do they improve the quality and control of food in the retail chain?
Applying for IFS certification is a voluntary act. It demonstrates the commitment of the manufacturer or merchant to implement best practices in ensuring food quality and safety, applying much stricter control rules than legal requirements.
IFS certification helps us as a wholesaler maintain a high level of quality by imposing the same standards on all suppliers and manufacturers along the supply chain, increases customer trust, ensures reliable traceability and transparency of products and processes, and promotes innovation and sustainable practices.
METRO has maintained a high standard for more than 15 years, being an IFS-certified enterprise. Can you explain with specific examples how this certificate contributes to the company? After all, the procedure for obtaining it is probably associated with additional costs and requirements.
We are proud to be the first and still the only wholesaler (with a chain of stores) in Bulgaria, certified at a high level according to the IFS standard. Each of our sites undergoes an annual audit by an independent international organization with highly qualified auditors. We have come a long way to establish a lasting and sustainable culture among our employees for high standards of work. We demonstrate to our partners the application of the same requirements that we set for them. We manage risks effectively. This helps us to be a reliable partner for our professional clients.
This certification also affects METRO's supply chain partners. What are the additional requirements you place on manufacturers and suppliers concerning IFS, and are there any benefits for them?
That's right. All suppliers of Metro house brand food must also be IFS certified or in possession of a similar standard recognized by GFSI - the Global Food Safety Initiative. Although the requirements may seem challenging, they bring significant benefits to both the business and the end consumers. Producers can improve product safety and quality by maintaining consistently high standards and practices, demonstrating compliance with legal requirements, and improving their internal communication, culture and work discipline.
Does having an IFS certificate give you a competitive advantage in the market and how exactly?
Maintaining clear and sustainable operating rules improves efficiency and reduces costs. A certified business is much more competitive and reliable, increases customer trust, creates a good business reputation, and opens doors to new markets on a global scale.
What is the situation abroad? Is the certification of food retailers more widespread there? Are there many retailers in Bulgaria that are IFS-certified?
Abroad, quality standard certificates, such as IFS, are widespread and considered a mandatory practice for companies that want to work with international retail chains, distributors and manufacturers. This applies not only to food products but also to packaging and other services related to production.
IFS is a standard implemented in over 100 countries. In Europe, especially in countries like Germany, France, Italy and Spain, where the environment is extremely competitive, it is almost mandatory for companies that want to work with large retailers.
Consumers in developed economies expect high levels of food safety and quality, which is driving companies to certify their processes.
In Bulgaria, IFS is mainly applied by manufacturers which work with large local or international clients. There are few certified merchants and distributors, and METRO Bulgaria, as I said, is the only IFS-certified chain wholesaler in our country.
Does the certificate have anything to do with the sustainability grade of the company?
IFS certification itself is not primarily focused on sustainability, but its requirements support aspects of sustainable development through better resource management, higher quality and safety, waste reduction, and the application of ethical principles.
Companies that implement it can often use it as a foundation for integrating broader sustainable practices. By keeping our sites certified, and working with certified suppliers, we ensure greater security, stability, continuity and sustainability of our business.
How do you think the food control industry will develop in Europe, and Bulgaria, in particular? Besides this type of certification, what are the trends in this market?
Safety is the minimum that any food business must guarantee for the consumer. Working as a wholesaler, we have an even greater responsibility to our professional customers who purchase our products to prepare meals for their own customers or to stock up their grocery stores.
There is a trend towards consumers becoming more demanding of quality. Price has long ceased to be the leading or only factor in purchasing decisions. The next level, in addition to high quality, is the sustainability of products, that is products made with a minimal carbon footprint, via responsible and sustainable extraction of raw materials, with care for the environment and short supply chains.
Let's not forget the increasingly sought-after products with high nutritional value, alternatives to animal proteins, products with a clean composition and minimal or no use of chemical additives, healthier offerings, etc. Accordingly, all these claims for sustainability, specific composition and technology require proof through objective assessments, audits and certifications.
Can it be said that the IFS certificate is like an honor badge for every company that holds it, guaranteeing a job well done and 100% safety for customers?
The IFS certificate represents an objective assessment of the performance of a food business. The certificate gives significant prestige to any company that holds it and positions it as a responsible and professional business partner.
However, it is important to realize that obtaining the certificate does not end the commitment of the certified enterprise. On the contrary, it signifies responsibility, aspiration and ambition to continuously prove and improve this high standard.
The certificate is part of a broader control system and does not completely eliminate risks. However, having an IFS certificate is a strong competitive advantage and a key factor for success in the food industry.
*This article was prepared with the assistance of METRO.
Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov