For METRO Bulgaria, food safety leadership starts with leading by example. With more than 16 consecutive years of certification to the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry Standard across its wholesale operations, Dobrina Marcheva, Quality Assurance Department Manager at METRO Bulgaria, explains how the company uses IFS Certification not only to strengthen its own food safety and quality management, but also to support supplier development and build resilient, long-term partnerships.

“For us, certification is not simply a customer expectation or a compliance requirement – it is a commitment to continuously improving the way we manage food safety and quality,” Dobrina explains. 

METRO Bulgaria emphasises that certification should facilitate the growth of suppliers and foster long-term partnerships. The METRO Assessment Solution (MAS) sets requirements comparable to those of the IFS Progress programs, which assist suppliers that are still working toward internationally recognised certification. 

“MAS helps our suppliers identify improvement opportunities and develop their food safety systems. This creates a clear pathway towards IFS or other GFSI-recognised certification while strengthening the resilience of our supply chain,” Dobrina says.

A common language for continuous improvement

For METRO Bulgaria, one of the key benefits of IFS is the common framework it creates between wholesalers and suppliers. This shared language helps turn expectations into a more transparent and constructive dialogue:

“IFS gives us a common language. It helps us establish clear expectations, improve transparency and focus our discussions with suppliers on opportunities for improvement.”

Over the years, IFS has also become an integral part of METRO Bulgaria’s day-to-day approach to food safety and quality management.

“IFS is much more than an annual audit for us. It is part of how we manage our business and continuously strengthen traceability, supplier performance monitoring, risk assessment and food safety incident response,” Dobrina continues.

This approach is based on the belief that food safety is a shared responsibility. By applying the same high standards it expects from its suppliers, METRO Bulgaria aims to build stronger partnerships, a more resilient supply chain and greater confidence among its customers and consumers.

“Long-term partnerships are built on transparency, mutual expectations and a shared commitment to continuous improvement. That is why we continue to require IFS Certification from our suppliers. And that is why we continue to challenge ourselves through the same standard, year after year,” Dobrina concludes.

We thank Dobrina Marcheva and METRO Bulgaria for sharing their experience. Their approach demonstrates how IFS Certification can go beyond compliance and serve as a common framework for continuous improvement, supplier development and a stronger food safety culture throughout the supply chain.

Find more information about the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry Standard here.