They combine exceptional taste with healthy ingredients, offering desserts even for people who avoid sugar or gluten. The company Baci Dolci has experienced both success and the challenges of bankruptcy. Today, it is growing again with the support of the Bulgarian Development Bank.

“I turned to the confectionery business because of women,” says Radoslav Hristov, founder of Baci Dolci, with a smile.

He is not formally trained as a pastry chef. He graduated in “Trade Economics” from the University of Economics - Varna, but has always had a strong interest in food and entrepreneurship. According to him, the most important ingredient for a successful business is passion for what you do.

Nearly two decades ago, he decided to start his own production. All he had was a notebook filled with recipes he had collected during his travels across Europe.

“While thinking about what to pursue, I realized that in most households women determine the larger share of the budget. And most people find it hard to give up sweets. That’s how the idea of producing desserts was born,” Hristov explains.

Ambition with a Single Product

His initial goal was ambitious - to produce packaged tiramisu for the mass market.

“I wanted to produce chilled, packaged tiramisu and reach a wide audience - first in Bulgaria and neighboring countries, and later in larger markets,” the entrepreneur recalls.

After securing financing, he launched his first product - a 140-gram chilled tiramisu in a package.

“Already in the first year, we reached a turnover of around BGN 1.2 million with this single product.”

However, the global financial crisis in 2008 proved to be a serious challenge. The company went bankrupt - an experience the entrepreneur now sees as a valuable lesson.

“Failure can be difficult, but it is often the best teacher. Many successful entrepreneurs around the world have gone through it,” says Hristov.

A New Beginning

After this difficult period, he started again - this time with a more diverse product portfolio. His notebook filled with new recipes: chocolate truffles, “Rondine” dessert without sugar and gluten, various types of soufflés, and other confectionery products.

This marked the birth of the new Baci Dolci brand. The first pastry shop opened on Prague Blvd. in Sofia.

Around that time, Hristov reconnected with the team of the Bulgarian Development Bank and applied for financing.

“The support from BDB gave me confidence. The application process is serious, but it helps entrepreneurs become better prepared and organized,” he says.

Growth with the Support of BDB

With funding from BDB, the company expanded its operations - opening new pastry shops in Sofia and Varna, investing in modern equipment, and growing its team.

Today, Baci Dolci’s ассортимент includes over 90 products - classic confectionery items, sugar-free and gluten-free desserts, cakes in various price ranges, as well as savory offerings such as focaccia made from high-protein Italian wheat.

The entrepreneur is already planning the next step in the company’s development. He is preparing a new business plan that envisions expanding the chain with four more pastry shops by the end of 2026.

Food with a Mission

For Hristov, food is not just a pleasure, but part of a broader philosophy of a healthy lifestyle.

“The food we consume today determines the quality of our lives 20 - 30 years from now,” he says.

That is why Baci Dolci is gradually developing a line of desserts with healthier ingredients - a trend the entrepreneur believes will continue to grow in the coming years.

Today, the company continues to expand and explore new markets - with the support of the Bulgarian Development Bank and the confidence that even after difficult times, the entrepreneurial spirit can find a new path to success.