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EBRD and UniCredit Bulbank support FitSpo’s green expansion in Bulgaria

Author: Vanora Bennett

Signing EBRD and UniCredit Bulbank to support FitSpo’s
  • UniCredit Bulbank provides €5.3 million in financing to FitSpo Nutrition OOD
  • EBRD shares risk on up to €2.7 million under its Risk Sharing Facility
  • Project supported by the EBRD Green Innovation Programme, funded by Horizon 2020

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the expansion of FitSpo Nutrition OOD, a Bulgarian producer of functional food products, through an unfunded risk‑sharing agreement with UniCredit Bulbank.

Under the transaction, UniCredit Bulbank is providing €5.3 million in long‑term financing to FitSpo. The EBRD is participating by sharing risk on up to €2.7 million of the financing through its Risk Sharing Facility, helping to improve access to longer‑term funding for a growing local company.

The financing will support FitSpo’s investment programme to expand and modernise its production facilities in Bulgaria. The project includes the procurement and installation of a new, fully automated production line, a high‑efficiency packaging line and associated equipment, as well as investments in a new innovative green production facility. Once completed, the investment is expected to double FitSpo’s annual production capacity, enabling it to meet rising demand in both domestic and export markets.

FitSpo produces a range of functional food products, including protein bars, protein cookies, whey protein powder, flapjack bars and raw vegan balls, marketed under the FitSpo brand. The company sells its products through major retail chains in Bulgaria and exports to multiple international markets.

The project will benefit from a grant of up to €750,000 under the EBRD Green Innovation Programme, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme . The grant will support the adoption of innovative climate technologies and best‑available equipment, helping a small and fast‑growing enterprise overcome the financial barriers associated with such advanced investments.

The investment is expected to deliver significant environmental benefits, including lower energy consumption, a decline in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, reduced waste generation and improved production efficiency. Estimated annual impacts include energy savings of nearly 96,000 kWh and the avoidance of more than 40 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, alongside reductions in raw material use and packaging waste.

Through its Risk Sharing Facility, the EBRD works with partner banks by sharing the risk associated with eligible loans to local companies, helping to expand access to finance, support investment and strengthen competitiveness. The facility is a key EBRD instrument for supporting small and medium‑sized enterprises and promoting green and innovative investments across its regions.

The EBRD has been investing in Bulgaria since 1991 and, as at 31 January 2026, had invested €5 billion in 318 projects in the country, with a strong focus on private‑sector development, competitiveness and the green economy transition.