The USAID project Investments for Business Resilience has signed a $2 million grant agreement with Suziria Group, a leading Ukrainian pet food market player, to expand its production capabilities. Under the agreement, Suziria Group will also invest approximately $4.5 million through loans from Ukrainian banks and its own resources.
The grant is part of USAID's support for Ukrainian businesses affected by the war. The funds will enable Suziria Group to launch its own production of wet pet food in Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk region, where the company relocated its grain feed production after rocket attacks on Kharkiv and began producing meat treats for dogs and cats. Part of the production capacity in Kharkiv continues to operate.
"Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine and the devaluation of the national currency have negatively impacted the company's operations. This prompted us to revise our business model and focus on developing our production facilities in the western part of the country. We are grateful to the USAID 'Investments for Business Resilience' Project and our banking partners. Our collaboration shows that all participants in the process are committed to Ukraine's victory and are ready to invest in the development of a competitive business and support the Ukrainian economy," said Polina Kosharnaya, co-owner of Suziria Group.
With the support of the Project and the launch of the new wet pet food production line, Suziria Group will be able to increase its production capacity, create 130 new jobs, and significantly reduce production costs. The company plans to use the increased production to expand its market share, working with Ukrainian raw material suppliers and key retail networks to produce wet pet food under their own brands.
"Despite the constant shelling of Kharkiv and the loss of some stores in temporarily occupied territories, Suziria Group has not stopped but continues to develop, adapting to new realities. The launch of modern production, creation of additional jobs, and potential entry into new foreign markets will contribute to Ukraine's economic recovery and GDP growth, benefiting both the company and the country as a whole," said Yulia Vitka, Deputy Project Manager of USAID’s "Investments for Business Resilience."
Currently, Suziria Group's wet pet food is produced at partner facilities in EU countries. Developing its own production will allow the company to gradually reduce imports of this product category and expand its sales geography. In three years, Suziria Group plans to begin exporting wet pet food to the European market.
About Suziria Group: Suziria Group is a Ukrainian family-owned company that has been developing the pet products market for over 30 years. It includes Suziria Brands, Suziria Distribution, and the omnichannel pet store network MasterZoo. The company operates throughout Ukraine and beyond, exporting its own brands such as Savory, Half&Half, Special One, Pet Fashion, Buddy Boo, Priroda, and Puramur.
