METRO Supermarket, Sofia

Metro supermarket is the daddy of wholesalers. Many sites, but with two branches in Sofia and one in Blagoevgrad it’s ideal for those staying in self catering Bansko accommodation.  I just had to have my own Metro card as, whilst a foreign passport will usually gain me entry, entering the store via a UK passport still required form filling — and wasted time. Read on for how I go my METRO card — and how, and whether you should bother, to arrange your own card to gain entry into this most hallowed temple to warehouse shopping.

Why Bother With METRO

You will see on their web site all the good reasons for getting your card and shoping at METRO. But really I find it’s almost impossible to beat their prices. Virtually opposite on Tsarigradski Shosse the are building a new Carrefour. But this looks nealy a year away from completion. METRO’s  wine deal at the moment ebants casavino wine warehouse. Many wines half the price you will find in Bansko. Some need to be bought in half cases for best deals.

My favourite “Black C” , reviewed recently http://banskoblog.com/2009/10/top-bulgarian-wine/ both red and white version, are 5 leva cheaper than most other outlets.

How To Find METRO

Bulgarian Business Centre: picture -- 14th November 2009

The Sofia one, shown above, I visited recently and is located just at the junction of Tsarigradski Shosse and Brussels  Blvd (the Sofia airport road). METRO account for a huge amount of the stock supplied for bars, restaurants and catering businesses. You can see in the photo the impressive new Bulgarian Business Centre (BBC) opposite.

But first, if you are arranging a private transfer, and are just occasionally visiting Bulgaria , you may ask your driver if he has a card before booking. Then ask if,  on the way to Bansko, you can just divert one minute off the E79 into Metro at Blagoevgrad and stock up with your cheap beer, wine, food, inventory, electricals etc.  They all have integral banks — making a handy place to change currency. They are generally open till late. I have to point out Metro’s terms and conditions at metro.bg. But rest assured, they don’t seem to care who you. Plenty of Bulgarian folk stocking up for personal use is in evidence.

METRO Card For Bulgarian Companies

Metro Sign Up Screen Shot -- click here to go straight to English version of web site

What You Need To Bring To METRO To Get Your Card (my comments in italics)

1. To present an original or a notary-certified copy of the following documents:
   • Identification card, issued by the Agency for registration Entries (unified identification code);  (I used my company BULSTAT card)
   • Certificate for LVAT (Law for Value Added Tax) registration (only for persons with a VAT registration);
   • A court decision for the company registration; This is means a Certificate Of Good Standing check out more legal info http://banskoblog.com/2009/11/property-taxes_state-registration/
   • ID card –  I used a PASSPORT
   • Company seal. I took this, but was not required!
2. The presence of a Materially Accountable Person (MAP) or a person, authorized by him/her to represent the company. The proxy does not need to be certified by a notary. I went in person — but you could authorise, via a power of attorney, someone else.

For agricultural producers: Present a license from the municipality and an ID card. For all you farmers!

For Self-Employed Persons

Metro Sign Up Screen Shot -- click here to go to site

Present the following documents:

• Identification card (unified identification code) or a BULSTAT registration;
• Certificate for LVAT registration (only for persons with a VAT registration) – original or a copy, certified by a notary;
• A document for paid social security installments as a self-employed person;
• ID card.

Conclusion

I found this a really simple procedure. Just five  minutes after arriving with all the documents I had my METRO card with photograph. Please comment here on any especially good buys you find in METRO. From TV’s, household items such as mops, racks, heaters, cheap home-ware it all takes some beating on price.

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It’s not widely recognized that Bulgaria produces world class wine. They fail to hit the price points for exporting quality wine.

But fear not, when in Bulgaria you will be spoilt for choice.

Tip: Chardonnay and Muscat (Muscadet) seem to be the best white wines (check out Menada’s Trinity white wine).

The top 20 wines for the Bulgarian Wine of the Year 2008 were (in alphabetical order): Those in bold I have tried, and like a lot!

Chateau de Val Cuvee Trophy 2006 (Chateau de Val)

Encore 2007 (Katarzyna Estate)

Enira Reserva 2006 (Bessa Valley)

Levent Grand Selection chardonnay 2007 (VK Rousse)

Levent Grand Selection 2006 (VK Rousse)

Maxxima Private Reserva 2003 (Maxxima Cellars)

Minkov Brothers Cuvee 2007 (Sis Industries)

Nobile Rubin 2006 (Logodaj)

Question Mark 2007 (Katarzyna Estate)

Roto 2006 (Terra Tangra)

Rubaiyat chardonnay 2006 (Vinex Preslav)

Santa Sarah BIN41 merlot 2007 (Santa Sarah)

Santa Sarah Privat 2006 (Santa Sarah)

Santa Sarah Snow Wine 2005 (Santa Sarah)

Solitaire Elenovo merlot 2006 (Domaine Boyar)

Terra Tangra Cuvee 2006 (Terra Tangra)

Terra Tangra Grand Reserva 2006 (Terra Tangra)

Uniqato Rubin 2006 (Damianitza) Via Diagonalis 2007 (Kastra Rubra)

Vinissimo American Barrel 2006 (Rachev & Son).

For 2009, try Maxxima and No Man’s Land is consistently excellent. It’s affordable and sold in Bansko supermarkets.

For every day wine, Telish and Mezeek in a box with the equivalent to four bottles is perfect for apartment ski holiday red wine drinking in Metro, they both cost just 17 lev (€8.50 approx). That’s €2.25 per botthle. Stunning value for a wine of this quality

Beer

Shumensko (begins with a “W” in Cyrillic), Zagorka, Pirinsko, Tuborg, Kamenitsa are my favourites in that order.

Do try the dark “Stolichno” beer for a good strong flavour.

Get more like this. register for latest February Bansko Blog Guide. Get ready for new site.

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