Unilever
(Credit: Unilever)

Unilever to shut down Bulgarian factory and move production to Romania

Administrative operations to remain in Bulgaria

Anglo-Dutch food and consumer products group Unilever is closing its ice cream factory in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria and is moving part of production to Romania, Economica reported.

The ice cream factory in the Bulgarian city will cease operations on April 30, 2025 with warehouses remaining operational until August 2025, according to Capital. Unilever did not provide specific reasons for the closure. Sources however revealed the main reason is the lack of qualified workforce.

“Production will move to the factory in Romania, while commercial and administrative operations will remain in Bulgaria to ensure intra-community trade of ice cream from Romania to Bulgaria. The reason for the relocation is the lack of workforce,” sources from the neighboring country told Economica

Unilever operates factories in two Romanian cities, namely Ploiești and Suceava. Administrative operations will remain in Bulgaria. Recently, the company announced a €4 million investment plan for the plant in Suceava, to be implemented between 2024 and 2025.

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A similar decision to relocate the operations from Bulgaria to Romania was taken by Unilever in 2007. The group ceased producing Kaliakra (a prominent brand of margarine and mayonnaise, sold exclusively on the Bulgarian market) and now imports it from its factory in Romania. The relocation was part of the company’s plan to concentrate its production operations in strategic locations, able to support its growth on the long term.

Unilever has made several investments in Romania in recent years, the most significant being the acquisition of Betty Ice, a well-known local brand with a factory in Suceava. Betty Ice was founded in 1994 by Romanian entrepreneur Vasile Armenean.


Year Founded: 1929 Headquarters: London, UK Employees: Approximately 127,000 (as of 2024) Factories: +280 Turnover:€59.6 billion (2023) with 58% in emerging market