Supply Chain Forum 2026 is the annual conference of the Bulgarian Supply Association , which brings together leading professionals in the field of procurement, logistics and supply chain management. The event will offer a strong program with international speakers and experts who will share practical experience, current trends and good practices.
Time: 10:45
Date: 9 June
Location: Inter Expo Center Sofia
This year’s edition will focus on key topics for the future of the industry, such as Category Management – from strategy to practical implementation , supply chain sustainability and new regulatory requirements , digitalization and the role of artificial intelligence in purchasing and in modern supply chain organizations.
BBCC Members are offered a special promocode GRPSCF2026
PROGRAM:
10:45 – 11:00 – Registration for training sessions
11:00 – 12:15 Mastery in Negotiations: Why AI Won’t Replace Us in Negotiations? – Veselin Nikolov, Professional Coach and Negotiation Expert
11:00 – 12:15 Assertiveness: The ability to stand your ground – Antoaneta Pancheva-Dimitrova, organizational consultant Kiboo
11:00 – 12:15 Fireside chat: Conference early arrivers get to create an AI agent with Nick Gospodinov, CEO of Mandel AI and Lazar Mateev, vice president of BASC
11:00 – 12:15 CPO round table with Bernard Gracia (Invitation Only)
12:00 – 12:30 Registration for the main conference program
12:30 – 12:40 Opening of Supply Chain Forum 2026
12:40 – 12:50 – Official welcome of BASC as member of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management – The Role of IFPSM in Shaping the Future of Global Procurement – Mirela Senica, Vice President, IFPSM
12:50 – 13:20 NextGen Category Management: From strategy to implementation – Bernard Gracia founder of European Institute for Procurement Management and author of “5th Generation Purchasing”
13:20 – 13:40 Agentic AI in Category Management – Use case by Lutz Schirmeister, Procurement Transformation Evangelist , Procurement Without Boundaries
13:40 -14:00 Hidden losses in negotiations with suppliers – Veselin Nikolov, professional coach and negotiation expert
14:00 -14:20 Navigating the Storm: Strategies for Stability in Supply Chains – cargo-partner
14:20 – 14:40 ESG in uncertain times: sustainability vs survival – Nevena Davidova , sustainability expert
14:40 – 15:00 From Pallet to Data: The Engine of Digital and Sustainable Supply Chains” – Atanas Kotov, EPAL
15:00-15:30 Coffee Break
15:30 – 15:50 From operator to strategist: Entrust the routine to the AI agent in D365FO and harness your experience as an expert – FTS
15:50 – 16:10 Automation and Sustainability: Less Energy, More Efficiency – Nadezhda Blagoeva, STAMH
16:10 – 16:30 – Is the future of procurement agents? – Lutz Schirrmeister, Procurement Transformation Evangelist , Procurement Without Boundaries
16:30 – 16:50 – Don’t buy AI agents – Nick Gospodinov, CEO Mandel AI
16:50 – 17:50 Panel Discussion. From Automation to Autonomy: The Evolution of Procurement – Lutz Schirrmeister, Nick Gospodinov, Nadezhda Blagoeva.
17:50 – 18:00 Developing skills in procurement – key to sustainable success – Preslava Filipova, co-founder of BAS , global purchasing strategist IBM
18:00 – 20:00 Networking cocktail