Suziria Group

🌟 MasterZoo Cares for Homeless Animals 🌟 At MasterZoo, we believe all pets deserve to be the happiest and healthiest. Homeless animals also deserve love and care, as their relatives in loving families, so it is important for us to implement some activities that promote the adoption of animals and help these animals find a new home. 🐾 Adoption Corners in Petstores 🐾 MasterZoo features an adoption corner with stands displaying photos and information about animals for adoption provided by shelters and volunteers. In some of our pet stores, you can even meet adorable cats in person, who are eagerly waiting for their new families. All our furry friends are vaccinated and have passports. Our consultants provide detailed information on how to take care of your chosen pet, and after the adoption, new pet parents receive a gift box with all the essentials for their pet’s comfortable life. We are thrilled to report that over 100 cats have found loving homes through our adoption corners. ✨ Grooming services in the adoption center ✨ At the Patron Pet Center, the biggest adoption hub in Ukraine, we have set up MasterZoo Grooming services for pets looking for a home. Our professional groomers take care of these animals on a permanent basis, ensuring they receive the necessary attention and care. Our goal is to do everything to enhance homeless pets` well-being and increase their chances of being adopted. Check out the photos to see how our furry friends are enjoying their time at MasterZoo Grooming. They are happy with us, but we will be overjoyed when they find their families.

🎤 Maryna Kaliuzhna participated in the annual HR Days event. Due to the ongoing war, Ukraine faces challenges when uncertainty greatly influences people's lives. Thus, the employer role takes even more new roles in supporting teams. Our HR Director, Maryna Kaliuzhna, addressed how to support employees, develop efficiency, and build correct internal communication in conditions of a full-scale invasion. One of the main conclusions of the presentation is that there should not be uncomfortable topics to discuss with the team anymore. That is why we in Suziria Group practice regular all-hands meetings with the whole team to discuss all pressing issues no matter who has them. We were pleased to share our experiences and grateful for the exchange of practical cases from other HR professionals from leading Ukrainian and international companies such as Kernel, Metro, Academy DTEK, Coca-Cola HBC, BRS-Nafta, OKKO, MHP, and others.

Suziria Group signs a $2 million grant agreement with USAID!   This grant is provided as part of the Investing for Business Resilience project for war-affected businesses. With these funds, we will launch our production of wet pet food in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. This is where we relocated our grain feed production following missile strikes on Kharkiv and began producing meat treats for dogs and cats.🐶🐱    The support from USAID will allow us to increase our production capacity, create new jobs, and significantly reduce production costs. Our strategy includes collaborating with Ukrainian raw material suppliers and key retail chains to produce wet pet food under their private labels. This initiative will not only expand our market share but also strengthen local partnerships. 🐾   We are grateful to USAID. Your support underscores our shared commitment to Ukraine's victory and economic development. Together, we are fostering a competitive business environment and bolstering the Ukrainian economy. 📈

Great news - the design for Half&Half continues to receive recognition! Now, it has been shortlisted for the prestigious PENTAWARDS 2024 in the Pet Products category! 🏆 The Pentawards is a top global competition for packaging design, judged by over 50 experts from leading brands and agencies. This year, it attracted over 2,000 entries from 62 countries worldwide, and we are honored to be among the shortlisted finalists. The winners will be announced at the Gala Ceremony in London on 25 October. We eagerly await the results and appreciate your continued support. 🐾

Suziria Group Celebrates VAFO's 30th Anniversary! Thirty years ago, VAFO Group began its journey to become a leading European premium pet food producer, winning the hearts of pet lovers in over eighty-five countries. Today, after ten years of fruitful partnership, we are thrilled to congratulate VAFO on this remarkable milestone. Over the past decade, our partnership has transformed from a business collaboration into a true alliance. United by shared goals and values, we’ve overcome challenges, created innovative solutions, and reached significant achievements. Now, VAFO is the number one player in dog food and ranks among the top three in cat food in the Ukrainian market. Many thanks for your exceptional products, dedication, and shared vision, which drive us forward together. We are proud to be your partners and look forward to many more successful years together!

Caring for pets has always been and remains the center of attention for Suzia Group. Our charitable activities from Suziria Charity also reflect this value, as we strive to ensure that every animal receives love, protection, and support. With the onset of the full-scale invasion and the resulting increase in the number of homeless animals, the need for charitable assistance has become more urgent than ever. Therefore, we donate over 20,000 euros every month to help shelters, pets, and volunteers with their rising needs. Moreover, we continuously collaborate with government institutions, the media, and the public to launch projects that promote the adoption of homeless animals. If you want to make a difference, join our Suziria Charity Foundation. Your donations help us to systematically support our four-legged friends: EUR: UA563515330000026000005902241 USD: UA543515330000026001045913288 Together, we can create a world where no pet is left behind!

Last week, Mariya Babko, the head of marketing at Suziria Distribution, took part in the annual MRKTNG MRTH by marketing media MMR. Maria, together with Alexandr Čerepkin, Key Account Sales in Ukraine at VAFO, as well as Natalia Kholod, founder and CEO, and Mariia Bohatikova, Head of PR, at the WARTO communication agency, discussed "Reversing Global Brand Communications: How Ukraine Sets Trends for the World Using the BRIT Case Study." Key Highlights: 📊Ukraine Sets Trends: The Ukrainian pet market is quick and dynamic; marketing and communication solutions are being tested and implemented often faster than in the other markets. Therefore, Ukraine, step by step, is becoming the headquarters of many innovative ideas and practices for intercontinental companies. 💡Marketing is the key: Suziria Distribution breaks the typical perception of distribution, as it not only handles logistics but also cares a lot about the marketing and promotion of every brand in the portfolio and treats them as its own. It is never enough to just bring leading foreign brands to Ukraine. 🤝Partnering Approach: It doesn't matter if you have the role of an international brand, distributor, or communication agency; the approach to work should be based on true cooperation and partnership. 📈Market Sentiments: Local partners act as ambassadors who provide crucial insights and feel the market and customers' needs the best. Сredence to the partner on the local market significantly impacts quickly and dynamically growing. The marathon gathered 30 speakers from leading companies, such as Ukrainian Railway «Ukrzaliznytsia,» Kernel, Vodafone, AB InBev Efes, Socar, and over 400 participants to share the best marketing practices and exchange ideas.

Developments in the Ukrainian Pet Market: Updates from Suziria Group 📈 Market Growth: According to Euromonitor Worldwide, Eastern Europe is among the top-growing regions for pet care business. This positive trend is also evident in Ukraine, where the pet market continues to expand. - In 2023, the Ukrainian cat and dog food market experienced an 11.2% increase in tonnage and a 27% rise in value. - Wet food and treats are the main drivers, with a 79.5% increase in value. 🏬 Expansion in Retail Coverage: Due to the demand for pet products, the number of stores selling pet supplies is also increasing:  - In Q1-Q2 2024, our distribution expanded to 350 new stores of specialized retail, boosting total coverage to over 5,850 stores across Ukraine. Overall, the growth for 2024 is currently +27% compared to the same period in 2023. - We ensure efficient supply to every store through three state-of-the-art distribution centers covering 16,000 m² and cross-docking facilities in various cities. - 75% of the new stores range from 20 to 70 m² 🛒 Product Variety and Trends: With an extensive portfolio of 8,000 SKUs at the start of 2024, we added 300 new products, aligning with international pet market trends. New arrivals include:  - alternative protein food for cats sensitive to meat proteins - plant-based fillers like oats - functional treats (anti-stress, recovery, etc.) 💰Sales Growth Drivers: The most significant sales growth has been observed in the retail network and online channels of MasterZoo. It's driven by the expanding store network, continuous enhancement of partner channels, and robust growth in the company's online platform. We are proud to be at the heart of the dynamic growth in the Ukrainian pet care market and will continue to serve our customers with innovative and high-quality products.

Over the past few months, Suziria Group participated in major business events. It was a pleasure to be among real DOERs and exchange experiences on how we can overcome challenges, grow, and continue to support the economy during the ongoing war. Here is a sneak peek into the recent events and what's coming up next. 1️⃣ Polina Kosharna, co-founder of Suziria Group and founder of MasterZoo, at the "Vilna" forum by Forbes Ukraine. Polina was a speaker on the panel "Formula for a Successful Businesswoman: Stories and Life Hacks", where she discussed how the war facilitated gender transformation and why female leadership is a new norm. The forum featured over 40 powerful speakers and 380 participants, including the government sector. Joining Polina on the panel were representatives from leading businesses in their respective niches: GхBar, Corcel Group, and UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group. 2️⃣ Polina Kosharna at RAU Expo. RAU Expo is the premier event for retail market players. Polina joined the panel discussion "Strategy to Combat Fragility in Wartime". They discussed adapting strategies during wartime, leveraging technology for growth, and measuring success with key KPIs. But the heart of the discussion was human capital, which all speakers agreed is crucial nowadays. 3️⃣ Maryna Kaliuzhna, Human Resources Director of Suziria Group, and В'ячеслав Дегтяр, Regional Head of Retail Sales of MasterZoo at Modern Store Management Conference Our team, with representatives from Jysk and Novus, participated in a panel discussion on "Cases for Improving Work Quality and Motivation of Store Teams." They discussed the acute challenges faced by the retail sector in the context of war and labor shortages, including recruiting and retaining employees and supporting and motivating teams. 4️⃣ Mariya Babko, Head of the Marketing Department at Suziria Distribution, at MRKTNG Marathon Soon, on June 25th, Maria Babko, together with Alexandr Čerepkin from VAFO Group, our business partner, will explore the topic "Reversal of global brand communications: how Ukraine sets trends for the world on the example of the BRIT case." We will tell you more about the event and share our insights in the following publications.

Half&Half's Packaging Wins Gold! The design for the Half&Half brand continues to earn awards. Yesterday, we proudly received the honor at the Ukrainian Design: The Very Best Of 2024 awards, part of the Ukrainian Creative Stories event. This festival recognizes the finest creative projects from renowned Ukrainian designers and emerging talents in the design industry. In the Graphic Design & Branding category, Half&Half won the first place for its packaging design, crafted by the talented team of the Ukrainian branding agency DOZEN. In 2024, the Ukrainian Design: The Very Best Of saw an impressive 255 entries from 80 participants. The jury was an international panel of professionals from Finland, Malaysia, the USA, Poland, Georgia, Germany, and Bulgaria. The slogan of Ukrainian Creative Stories 2024 is "Reactions create emotions, emotions create stories." We are thrilled that the emotion we strive to deliver has been recognized at yet another prestigious award ceremony.