Progressive
Progressive (CMG Bulgaria EOOD) is a privately held Sofia-based B2B media company that publishes a monthly FMCG trade magazine and digital newsletter, runs industry events and rankings, and sells advertising and reports to Bulgarian retail, manufacturing, and distribution decision-makers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSofia, Bulgaria
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Progressive does
Progressive (legal entity Си Ем Джи България ЕООД / CMG Bulgaria EOOD) is a privately held Bulgarian B2B media company headquartered in Sofia that publishes a monthly trade magazine covering the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector in Bulgaria. Founded in February 2007, it is the Bulgarian arm of the international Progressive Group, which operates sister editions in Romania, Croatia, and Serbia. The company describes itself as the only specialized B2B magazine dedicated to the Bulgarian FMCG trade, claiming 90% market coverage of Bulgarian retail through controlled, named distribution to verified retail owners, chain executives, manufacturers, and distributors.
The product portfolio centers on a freemium print magazine (11 print issues and 1 digital issue per year, 10,000 copies) plus a digital newsletter sent four times monthly to 15,100 top managers in FMCG and HoReCa. Revenue is generated primarily through advertising and sponsorship across print, digital, newsletter, and events; secondary revenue comes from one-time sales of premium market-research reports (the TOP 300 FMCG Companies ranking at 60 BGN with VAT and the TOP 10 Retailers Annual Report at 1,200 BGN excluding VAT) and from event participation and sponsorship fees tied to PROGRESSIVE AWARDS, the Progressive Retail Network conference, Category Retail Forum, Round Tables, and training programs. Adjacent sub-brands extend the franchise into pharmacy retail (Progressive Pharma) and retail basket analytics (Progressive Кошница / Progressive Retailer), with additional proprietary formats such as PRO BRAND TEST sensory evaluations.
The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer B2B with a qualified free subscription model — readers meeting the target-audience criteria receive the magazine for free, while advertisers pay for access to the same decision-makers across channels. Management is led by Country Manager Hristina Asparuhova and Editor-in-Chief Katya Dzhatova, supported by editors, an advertising and business development manager, and a team of 11–50 employees. No external funding rounds, M&A activity, public listing, or AI/ML product capabilities are disclosed in the source data; the company operates as a stable, single-country, advertising-funded niche media business within the broader Progressive Group network.
Progressive firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Progressive
- Legal name
- Си Ем Джи България ЕООД
- Website
- https://progressive.bg
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Progressive (CMG Bulgaria EOOD) is a privately held Sofia-based B2B media company that publishes a monthly FMCG trade magazine and digital newsletter, runs industry events and rankings, and sells advertising and reports to Bulgarian retail, manufacturing, and distribution decision-makers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Progressive industry classification
Industry- Product category
- B2B Trade Media Publishing
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online News & Magazine Publishing Platforms (CMS & Hosting) (MPAJAMAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Newsroom/CMS Platforms for Publishers (MPACAIAH), Subscription & Fulfillment Services (Print & Digital) (MPAJAKAB)
Keywords
Where Progressive is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sofia
- HQ country
- Bulgaria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Progressive business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Print Magazine Distribution: Free B2B magazine distributed monthly to qualified professionals in the FMCG sector. Subscription is free for those meeting the target audience criteria. Revenue generated through advertising placements and sponsored content.
- Advertising and Sponsorship: Primary revenue stream from advertising in the magazine, digital issues, newsletters, and event sponsorships. Advertisers can promote products and services to 15,000+ decision-makers in FMCG sector.
- Report Sales: Sale of specialized reports including TOP 300 FMCG Companies in Bulgaria (60 BGN with VAT for print edition) and TOP 10 Retailers Annual Report (1,200 BGN excluding VAT for PPT presentation).
- Event Participation and Sponsorship: Revenue from conference participation, event sponsorships, and brand award programs including PROGRESSIVE AWARDS, CATEGORY Retail Forum, and Progressive Retail Network conference.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free B2B subscription for qualified FMCG professionals |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | TOP 300 FMCG Companies ranking report |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | TOP 10 Retailers Annual Report |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Progressive product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Progressive (CMG Bulgaria EOOD) is a B2B magazine and media company covering the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector in Bulgaria. It publishes a monthly print magazine (11 print issues plus 1 digital issue annually) distributed to 10,000 verified FMCG professionals, a digital newsletter reaching 15,100 recipients four times per month, and produces specialized market research reports such as the TOP 300 FMCG Companies ranking and the TOP 10 Retailers Annual Report. The company also organizes industry events including the PROGRESSIVE Retail Network Conference, PROGRESSIVE Awards, and Category Retail Forum.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Progressive Retail Network: Annual B2B conference bringing together retail chain managers, manufacturers, and distributors
- PROGRESSIVE AWARDS
- Category Retail Forum
- Progressive Round Table
- PRO BRAND TEST
- Progressive In Training
- Progressive Digital
- Progressive Pharma
- ТОП 300 FMCG КОМПАНИИ В БЪЛГАРИЯ
- Progressive Retailer
- Progressive Кошница
Products and services
- PROGRESSIVE Magazine B2B monthly trade magazine (11 print issues plus 1 digital issue per year) for the FMCG industry, covering retail, wholesale, and manufacturing sectors in Bulgaria. Distributed to 10,000 verified decision-makers monthly with 90% market coverage of Bulgarian retail trade.
- TOP 300 FMCG Companies in Bulgaria Ranking Report Annual national ranking report covering the leading 300 FMCG companies in Bulgaria. Sold as a print edition for 60 BGN with VAT. Targets FMCG industry executives, manufacturers, distributors, and retail decision-makers.
- TOP 10 Retailers Annual Report Annual PPT presentation covering performance analysis of the TOP 10 retailers in Bulgaria. Sold for 1,200 BGN excluding VAT. Used by FMCG manufacturers, distributors, and industry analysts for benchmarking and market intelligence.
- PROGRESSIVE Retail Network Conference Annual B2B conference bringing together retail chain managers, manufacturers, and distributors in the Bulgarian FMCG sector for networking, knowledge sharing, and industry discussions.
- PROGRESSIVE AWARDS The first and only FMCG awards in Bulgaria, recognizing the best companies, brands, and CSR campaigns in the Bulgarian FMCG sector. Includes entry fees, sponsorship, and award event participation.
- Progressive Pharma Magazine Specialized pharma magazine covering the pharmacy retail sector in Bulgaria, targeted at pharmacy owners, managers, pharmaceutical distributors, and healthcare product suppliers.
- Progressive Retailer (Progressive Кошница) Annual retail basket analysis publication comparing shopping basket data across Bulgarian retailers. Used by FMCG manufacturers and distributors for retail benchmarking and pricing analysis.
Companies that use Progressive
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Progressive technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Progressive partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Natural Products Expo West / New Hope NetworkminorCoverage partnership for international natural and organic products industry event. Progressive magazine reports on Expo West trends for Bulgarian FMCG market readers.
- NIQ (NielsenIQ)minorMarket research data provider referenced in magazine analyses and trends coverage for Bulgarian FMCG market insights.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Progressive competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ESM – European Supermarket Magazine: Pan-European B2B magazine for supermarket and FMCG retail; broader geographic footprint than Progressive but overlapping product, audience, and advertising model.
- William Reed (FoodNavigator / Just Drinks / BeverageDaily): Global B2B media group operating vertical trade brands in food, beverage, and nutrition; same content + events + data B2B media operating model as Progressive at much larger scale.
- The Grocer: Leading UK FMCG trade publication covering retail, brand, and supplier news; well-established B2B magazine with print, digital, events, and rankings revenue mix similar to Progressive's.
Direct peers
- Progressive Romania: Sister publication under the same Progressive Group, publishing the same B2B FMCG trade magazine model in Romania; identical editorial formula, audience, and advertiser profile.
- Progressive Croatia: Progressive Group's Croatian FMCG trade publication; near-identical B2B magazine + events + reports model targeting the Croatian retail/FMCG sector.
- Progressive Serbia: Progressive Group's Serbian FMCG trade title offering the same B2B publication + events stack to Serbian FMCG decision-makers.
Emerging players
- Retail Gazette: B2B digital-led publication covering retail strategy, technology, and consumer trends; overlapping advertiser base with Progressive's retail/FMCG audience but digital-first rather than print-led.
- FoodNavigator.com: Global B2B digital news and analysis platform for the food industry; covers similar FMCG/manufacturer/retail decision-maker audience as Progressive with digital subscription and event extensions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Progressive social profiles
Digital presenceProgressive financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Progressive leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Progressive funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Progressive M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Progressive
What does Progressive do?
Progressive (CMG Bulgaria EOOD) is a B2B magazine and media company covering the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector in Bulgaria. It publishes a monthly print magazine (11 print issues plus 1 digital issue annually) distributed to 10,000 verified FMCG professionals, a digital newsletter reaching 15,100 recipients four times per month, and produces specialized market research reports such as the TOP 300 FMCG Companies ranking and the TOP 10 Retailers Annual Report. The company also organizes industry events including the PROGRESSIVE Retail Network Conference, PROGRESSIVE Awards, and Category Retail Forum.
Is Progressive a public or private company?
Progressive is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Progressive founded?
Progressive was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Progressive based?
Progressive is headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, in the Europe region.
How does Progressive make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Print Magazine Distribution is the primary driver. The others are advertising and Sponsorship, report Sales and event Participation and Sponsorship.
Who are Progressive's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ESM – European Supermarket Magazine, William Reed (FoodNavigator / Just Drinks / BeverageDaily) and The Grocer. Direct peers are Progressive Romania, Progressive Croatia and Progressive Serbia. Emerging players are Retail Gazette and FoodNavigator.com.
Does Progressive have an API?
No public API is recorded for Progressive.
What industry is Progressive in?
Progressive's product category is B2B Trade Media Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAMAC, Online News & Magazine Publishing Platforms (CMS & Hosting), with a secondary code of MPACAIAH, Digital Newsroom/CMS Platforms for Publishers. Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.