From еmpty room to national leader: Breaktime’s journey in office beverage solutions

Breaktime is the leader in Bulgaria for integrated food and beverage solutions – office coffee, vending and water purification machines (POU).   It was established in 2012 and has made several acquisitions since.   Over the years it has attracted investors Neveq and Integral Venture Partners.   The company’s service is fully automated and employs latest technologies.  Currently over 8000 machines are serviced nationally.

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If we meet your business as a person on the street, how would it introduce itself to us?

А company which strives to provide world class food and beverage services to offices and industrial businesses

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Tell us about a moment when you had to close one door to open another. What made you take that step?

In the beginning we had an opportunity to be a subcontractor of a large multinational company that would invest on our behalf.  They had transferred an upfront payment into our account, but at the last moment we decided to send the money back and remain independent operators.  This was a difficult moment as we did not have enough money to invest ourselves .  We wanted to be the masters of our destiny no matter what.

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Tell us about a moment when someone gave you a helping hand without expecting anything in return, and it changed something significant for you. What was it, and why do you remember it?

There are several instances in the beginning where people whom I knew previously decided to give us a chance just to support this new company.  They did it out of good and supportive spirit.  This made a big impact as it reinforced our faith that we are on the right path and gave us courage to push on.  For a small startup one such gesture can make a big difference.

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Tell us about a moment when you stopped, looked around, and said to yourself: ‘Yes, this is exactly why I started!’ When was it, and what did you feel?

Right after Covid we attracted as investor a private equity fund – Integral Venture Partners.   For us this was serious endorsement as Covid was a super tough survival battle (our main clients are offices).  This made me think: “Yes, what we have created, the team, the service, the company is strong and alive and is bound to prosper”

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If someone were to create a comedy series about your business one day, which scene must absolutely be in the first episode?

The scene where we present a mighty business plan to the bank how we are going to be the leaders in 3-4 years.  After this we go to our office – one empty room with the two founders and the first employee and we really scratch our heads – how to start 