site.btaSupermarket Chain Lidl to Introduce Test Price Marking in Both Leva and Euro

The supermarket chain Lidl Bulgaria will introduce a test price marking in both leva and euro in all 137 of the chain's stores as part of preparations for the potential adoption of the euro in Bulgaria, the company said on Thursday. The test price marking will start from June 2.

This step aims to ease customers in the adaptation process by giving them the opportunity to get used to price marking in both currencies before the start of the legal period. According to the requirements, the mandatory price marking in both currencies will come into force one month after the official decision on Bulgaria's accession to the euro area.

Lidl Bulgaria Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Lyubomir Harsev said: "It is very important for us to help customers by giving them the opportunity to navigate the upcoming changes with confidence. For us at Lidl, the process of setting up and programming the more than 80 systems used in the company's operations was lengthy and required the involvement of around 350 employees."

The prices in euro are converted from leva at the official exchange rate. Payment will only be accepted in Bulgarian leva until the official introduction of the euro to the country.

The requirement for compulsory price labelling in both leva and euro will continue to apply for 12 months from the date of euro adoption, according to the National Euro Changeover Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria. One month after the euro adoption, both currencies will have legal tender status. At the end of the month, the lev will cease to be legal tender in Bulgaria.

The European Commission is expected to present the extraordinary convergence report on Bulgaria's readiness to adopt the euro on June 4.