Can One Learn From a Loaf of Bread?

It's possible! was the answer and it still is, more than we could imagine. After three years of intensive engagement of many different people we had to sell the Dutch Bakery in Bulgaria. The project has now finished.

We have learnt a lot from this project and would like to share with you our three most important lessons.

Background

Since 2001, d.o.b foundation provided FICE Bulgaria with financial support. FICE is a national umbrella organization focussing on modernizing the youth care care sector in Bulgaria.

To create less dependence on d.o.b foundation the idea to start a Dutch Bakery arises in 2004. In 2005 it opens for business. The goal being twofold:

1. To provide training and jobs to young people from children’s homes and other institutions.
2. To increase financial autonomy of FICE Bulgaria.

In the first phase (2004) d.o.b foundation invests € 200.000,- in the two following years a loan of € 75.000,- is disbursed.

FICE has in the mean time become independent by receiving EU funds from 2008 to continue their work for the coming years.

Three important lessons learnt from this project: 

1. A solid foundation of a project/business is of great importance. This presupposes the following matters:

•  thorough research;
• a thorough business plan;
• an ambitious entrepreneur/manager;
• a sound organizational structure.

The bakery lacked this foundation: placing a commercial company under the (non-profit) structure of an NGO was not a good idea because both organizational structures demand a different point of view with regard to ‘the business’.

2. Entrepreneur - manager

A business or project needs a real entrepreneur or entrepreneurial approach. Someone responsible for the end result, going for it with their whole heart, head and hands. Trusting and believing in this person is a condition for collaboration.

In the case of the bakery there was no Bulgarian entrepreneur. The Dutch entrepreneur who was appointed, started his own bakery. Because of this conflict of interest d.o.b cancelled his contract. After that we were not able to find a suitable replacement for him. Dutch bakers/managers were flown in from the Netherlands on a regular basis. Partly to introduce real Dutch products to Bulgaria (and educate the bakers there), and partly to lead the bakery. The final responsibility remained in the Netherlands.

3. It is difficult to run a project from the Netherlands. It is important that the project is initiated and/or supported on a local level. This is because:

• the responsibility and investment of time primarily belong in the country itself;
• in the role as investor an objective perspective is important. To prevent ‘project blindness’ it is better to work with an international team and supervise the entire project from the Netherlands.