Fantastico, the Bulgarian family-owned company, opened its first supermarket in the city of Plovdiv. The cutting-edge commercial site in Pavilion 10 in the city’s International Fair will welcome customers with a broad assortment, contemporary industrial look and beautiful architecture in unison with the history and traditions of the emblematic building. The new project sprawls over more than 45 thousand square feet and took EUR 13.9 million in investment for its realization. Approximately EUR 7.5 million were invested in the reconstruction and refurbishment of the building, some EUR 2 million – for developing surrounding infrastructure and EUR 4.4 million – for equipment.
“To us, choosing Plovdiv as the next location for the development of our chain is a logical continuation of our expansion. We are entering a strongly competitive market with huge respect for customers. Therefore, it was crucial for us to create a unique supermarket and offer a radically different service – with a rich variety of high-quality goods and fantastic customer experience,” Svetoslav Gavrilov, CEO of Fantastico Group said.
130 new jobs were opened in the supermarket, with a major part of the team having been trained in sites of the chain in Sofia for several months.
“The opening of Fantastico is good news for our city. Plovdiv is the sixth town in the country and the first in Southern Bulgaria where the chain opens a store. I am certain that their presence here will be welcomed with great interest by the citizens of Plovdiv and that it will contribute to even better customer service. I wish Fantastico fantastic development and future success,” the Mayor of Plovdiv, Kostadin Dimitrov, stated.
Customers will find a broad assortment in the new supermarket – a Bread for Life bakery with craft bread, made and baked on the spot, a culinary stand with fresh salads and meals, a bio and specialized foods zone, a Sushi Point sushi stand, pasta, pizza and sandwiches at Eddy’s, Sultan doner kebabs, and a Coffee Station – a zone for warm beverages, freshly squeezed juices, sandwiches, baked goods and pastries. Another one of the recognizable sectors in the chain is the Meat Corner with fresh meat and meat products, a rich fish stand and dairy products, delicacies, fruits and vegetables from local producers and international suppliers, cosmetics and many more.
Customers can benefit from several additional services – a Subra pharmacy, an Easy Pay cash desk, a Bulgarian Sports Totalizer lottery site, insurance services from I&G Brokers, a UniCredit Bulbank ATM, four automatic courier stations, etc.
The site has top-class equipment, 8 self-service cash desks, electronic labels, ticket-free parking system, three car park zones with 140 spaces, EV charging stations by Eldrive&Spark. A road connection to Tsar Boris III Obedinitel Blvd. was improved within the project, and a new passage to Bulgaria Blvd. was also built for easier and more convenient access to the supermarket, along with lush landscaping.
“This project is unique as it integrates all contemporary technological solutions in a building of historic and architectural value. The greatest challenge in renovating Pavillion 10 was to integrate all modern services and technologies without changing the look, nor volume or spatial characteristics of the building while preserving its identity. This is related to the efforts of all colleagues and partners who did everything possible to turn this site into one of the best supermarkets in Plovdiv and one of the best in Fantastico as a whole,” Martin Mandev, Capital Construction Director at Fantastico Group stressed.
The main contractor on the site is Barage Group – a long-standing partner of Fantastico with proven expertise in complex engineering and construction challenges. The designer of the building is ATEK DESIGN, and the construction oversight was provided by S Consult – companies with sound reputation and clear professional standard.
“For Barage Group this project was not only an opportunity, but a significant challenge, notably – to create a one-of-a-kind building for Bulgaria. The final result is impressive, and we are proud of what we have achieved. We are grateful to Fantastico Group for their trust and partnership,” Kostadin Chuklev, Manager of Barage Group shared.
The architecture of Fantastico supermarket is inspired by contemporary trends in commercial construction, combining esthetic and functional elements, with the site standing out with its high energy efficiency. The reconstruction of the Pavilion was carried out in an industrial style with the main materials used to achieve this new look being façade bricks and metal. The building is constructed using ecologically friendly materials and technologies minimizing the impact on the environment. Cutting-edge Building Management Systems (BMS) are integrated in the modern site to control the microclimate and energy consumption, along with a cooling system that uses a natural CO₂ refrigerant and a DALI centralized system for management and analysis, contributing to better lighting in the commercial hall.
About Fantastico Group
Fantastico Group is a Bulgarian family-owned company, founded in 1991 with the opening of its first store in the capital on Oborishte Street. Today, 48 supermarkets operate under the Fantastico brand. Over its 34 years of existence, Fantastico has established itself as a leading company in the retail sector, a responsible investor and employer. More than 3,500 professionals work in the company. Other than the supermarket chain, Fantastico Group owns SkiCity Mall commercial center, MegaXtreme Bowling bowling alleys, MyChoice Catering and JoyStation club.