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We ship orders the same or next day. DPD delivery: 2–7 days, free from €100. We ship orders the same or next day. DPD delivery: 2–7 days, free from €100. We ship orders the same or next day. DPD delivery: 2–7 days, free from €100.
The full-scale war in Ukraine has put small enterprises on the brink of survival, as many successful businesses have been uprooted, displaced and forced to start everything from scratch. Nevertheless, despite relocation and challenges, Ukrainian entrepreneurs continue to work, looking for innovative ways to expand and access new markets. Within the project “SME Boost: Economic Integration of Internally Displaced Persons and Business Recovery”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW Development Bank, IOM supports small enterprise owners with grants and provides other opportunities to resume and sustain their businesses.
Space-style snacks conquering Ukraine and beyond
In 2016, Vadym and Pylyp, two brothers from Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, tasted dried cheese snacks on the American market during one of their trips. They got excited about the idea of producing these unique products in Ukraine. It took them several years to bring this dream to life. The brothers visited a lot of exhibitions, studying the experience of foreign producers. Finally, they bought equipment with no equivalent in Ukraine, and spent another year and a half searching for the ideal technology. Only in 2021, under the name Prime Snack, did the company storm the biggest supermarket chains with its innovative products.
The business owners are proud of their 100 per cent natural products. The snacks are created with a special technology used by NASA to prepare meals for astronauts. The recipe is simple: water is removed from the cheese, so all the nutrients are kept in the dried product.
In the first few weeks of the full-scale war, when their home city of Kharkiv was pounded with missiles and shells, the brothers’ houses were destroyed, and the production site became inaccessible. The hostilities in this region showed no sign of abating, so in April Vadym and Pylyp decided to relocate to Zakarpattia, the western region of Ukraine.
In a matter of days, Vadym and Pylyp organised the transportation of their equipment, transferring everything they could. Their top priority was to save the special machinery that dries the cheese. Shortly afterwards, the brothers received an offer to move abroad and start production in the EU. After weighing up all the pros and cons, they decided to stay in Ukraine.
“Ukraine is our motherland and it is necessary to rebuild the country when the war ends. We would like to be part of these efforts and contribute to the economic recovery. In Mukachevo, we see great possibilities for export and are planning to enter the European market in a few weeks. We will conquer the world with our snacks!”, Pylyp jokes.
The business owners were able to transfer their equipment from Kharkiv at the start of the war. Photo: IOM/Daria Dovzhenko
A crucial step towards conquering the European market is the adoption of an eco-friendly production strategy. Pylyp and Vadym decided to install a solar power station, thus adopting energy-efficient practices while also cutting production costs and ensuring an uninterrupted power supply. Their innovative plan was supported by IOM within its SME Boost project, through which the brothers were provided with a grant to purchase solar panels. Thanks to these innovations, all the electricity needs of production are covered solely by renewable energy sources.
With total assistance of EUR 20,000 from IOM, the business owners will also be able to buy premium varieties of cheese to produce high-quality products. In a month and a half, Prime Snack produced 30,000 packages of dried cheese. Inspired, the entrepreneurs are now planning to expand the team, providing employment opportunities to other displaced persons hosted in Zakarpattia.
When asked about their recipe for success for relocated businesses, Vadym and Pylyp advise their peers to look into the future without any fear: “You have to start again. Do not think that everything is gone and that this is the end. No matter what, you must gather your strength and work. We are Ukrainians and we are unbreakable!”
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