Konti Group
A Ukrainian confectionery manufacturer whose portfolio spans chocolate, biscuits, desserts, candies, cakes, rolls, crackers and related packaged foods.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Konti Group is a Ukrainian confectionery and food manufacturer founded in 1997 at the Kostiantynivka Confectionery Factory in Donetsk Oblast. The name Konti is derived from Kostiantynivka Confectionery Factory, while the business previously used the name Vyrobnyche Obiednannia Kyiv-Konti before 2006. It developed from a regional producer into one of Ukraine’s largest confectionery companies, with a portfolio reported to contain roughly 200 products. The company’s range includes sandwich biscuits, cookies, crackers, chocolate products, candy bars, caramel, boxed chocolates, sweets sold by weight, complex desserts, sponge cakes and rolls. Its better-known brands include Super Kontik, Bonjour KONTI, TIMI, Amour, BiSKonti and Jack. This portfolio gives Konti exposure to both everyday impulse purchases and more premium or gift-oriented confectionery occasions. Konti expanded beyond Ukraine in 2004 by acquiring a confectionery factory in Kursk, Russia, which became part of CJSC Konti-Rus. By 2008, the company was reported to hold 10.6% of the Ukrainian confectionery market and rank second among Ukrainian confectionery manufacturers. At that time, management announced a planned investment of approximately US$100 million intended to raise its Ukrainian share to 15% and increase its position in Russia. Before the war in Donbas, the group operated facilities in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk and Horlivka in Ukraine, as well as the Kursk facility in Russia. The conflict in eastern Ukraine materially changed the company’s operating footprint. Production in Donetsk and Horlivka was halted after those areas left Ukrainian government control, and Ukrainian manufacturing was consolidated at Kostiantynivka, supported by a logistics centre in Dnipro. The company’s Russian subsidiary also became subject to regulatory and geopolitical complications. Ukraine temporarily suspended imports from Konti-Rus in 2015 after a food-safety inspection reported violations. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian authorities seized Konti-Rus assets. A 2025 assessment by the Kyiv School of Economics Institute classified Konti as exited from Russia and considered recovery of assets there highly unlikely, while Konti-Rus continued operating in Russia. Konti subsequently pursued production relocation and capacity development in central Ukraine. In 2019, the company announced plans for a new factory adjoining its Kostiantynivka operation in Kaniv, Cherkasy Oblast, with an intended workforce of about 200 people. Ukrainian production was later reported as being relocated to the Kaniv facility. The company has also discussed a possible biscuit factory in Kostiantynivka, conditional on the end of the war. The group has exported KONTI products to more than 20 countries, including markets in Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East. Its quality systems have been associated with ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 22000:2005 certifications. Konti was reported to have approximately 8,000 employees and a 3.7% share of the Ukrainian confectionery market in 2019, placing it fifth at that time. Its financial performance was adversely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, when reported net losses increased substantially. Current ownership, detailed financial information, and the company’s precise present-day market position are not fully documented in the supplied sources.
History
Konti Group originated in 1997 at the Kostiantynivka Confectionery Factory in Ukraine. Its name is commonly explained as an abbreviation of Kostiantynivka Confectionery Factory. Before adopting the Konti identity, the business was also known as Vyrobnyche Obiednannia Kyiv-Konti, a name it used until before 2006. The company developed a broad confectionery portfolio encompassing biscuits, chocolate, candies, desserts, cakes and snack products. The first major international expansion came in 2004, when Konti acquired a confectionery factory in Kursk, Russia. The Russian operation was organized as CJSC Konti-Rus and became an important part of the group’s cross-border manufacturing network. By 2008, Konti was reported to account for 10.6% of the Ukrainian confectionery market and to rank second nationally. Management announced a development program valued at approximately US$100 million, with goals of increasing the Ukrainian share to 15% and raising the company’s Russian share from about 1.9% to 5%. By 2013, the group’s Ukrainian manufacturing network included facilities in Donetsk, Horlivka and Kostiantynivka, alongside the Kursk plant. That year, the company was reportedly being considered for sale at a target valuation of US$1 billion through Barclays, but the proposed transaction did not take place. In early 2014, the corporate structure was reorganized through an offshore entity in the British Virgin Islands. At that time, Borys Kolesnikov and Svitlana Kolesnikova were listed as beneficial owners, each holding 25%. The war in Donbas disrupted Konti’s original industrial base. Operations in Horlivka and Donetsk were stopped after those territories were no longer under Ukrainian government control. Ukrainian production was consolidated in Kostiantynivka, with logistical support from a centre in Dnipro. The Russian subsidiary encountered regulatory difficulties as well. In August 2015, Ukrainian authorities temporarily suspended imports from Konti-Rus after an inspection identified food-safety violations. Konti attempted to rebuild Ukrainian capacity and improve its competitive position during the late 2010s. In 2019, it confirmed plans for a new factory near Kaniv in Cherkasy Oblast, adjacent to the Mahnat plant site. The proposed facility was expected to employ approximately 200 people and was intended to help the company return to second place in Ukraine’s confectionery market. A further biscuit factory in Kostiantynivka was discussed as a longer-term possibility dependent on the end of the war. Despite these plans, Konti was reported in 2019 to rank fifth in the Ukrainian confectionery market, with a 3.7% share and approximately 8,000 employees. The COVID-19 pandemic placed additional pressure on the business, and its net loss increased substantially in 2020. In 2021, reports claimed that Konti had acquired the bankrupt Krasnaya Zarya factory in Ivanovo, Russia, through United Partners for 452.2 million Russian roubles, reportedly half the starting price. Kolesnikov disputed the account and said the acquisition did not occur because he had been under Russian sanctions since 2018. The ownership and completion of that transaction therefore remain uncertain. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine further damaged the group’s cross-border position. Russian authorities seized Konti-Rus assets, while a 2025 Kyiv School of Economics Institute assessment categorized Konti as exited from Russia and judged the probability of recovering assets there to be negligible. Konti-Rus nevertheless continued operating in Russia, while Ukrainian production was reported to have been relocated to the Kaniv factory. Konti products have been exported to more than 20 countries, including European, Caucasian and Middle Eastern markets. The group’s quality systems have been associated with ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 22000:2005 certification.
- 2025
Russia classified as an exited market
[1]The KSE Institute describes Konti as exited from Russia and considers asset recovery unlikely.
- 2022
Russian assets seized
[1]Konti-Rus assets are seized by Russian authorities following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- 2021
Disputed Russian factory acquisition
[1]Reports describe a possible purchase of Krasnaya Zarya, but the transaction is denied by Borys Kolesnikov.
- 2020
Pandemic-related losses increase
[1]The company experiences a substantial increase in net loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019
Kaniv factory announced
[1]Konti confirms plans for a new Kaniv production site intended to support capacity and market-share recovery.
- 2015
Konti-Rus imports suspended in Ukraine
[1]Ukraine temporarily suspends imports from Konti-Rus after a food-safety inspection.
- 2014
Restructuring and Donbas disruption
[1]The group undergoes an offshore restructuring, while facilities in Donetsk and Horlivka are halted because of the war in Donbas.
- 2013
Uncompleted proposed sale
[1]A possible sale targeting a valuation of US$1 billion is reported but does not proceed.
- 2008
Second-largest Ukrainian confectioner
[1]Konti is reported to hold 10.6% of the Ukrainian confectionery market and announces a major development investment.
- 2006
Corporate naming transition
[1]The business moves away from the earlier Vyrobnyche Obiednannia Kyiv-Konti name.
Products and positioning
A broad-range Ukrainian confectionery manufacturer combining mass-market biscuits, sweets and chocolate products with packaged desserts and branded gift confectionery.
Chocolate and confectionery
Super Kontik
A core KONTI-branded confectionery line identified among the group’s leading brands. The supplied sources do not provide a complete specification of its individual formats or recipes.
Boxed and filled confectionery
Bonjour KONTI
One of Konti’s principal branded offerings, associated with the company’s packaged confectionery portfolio. Detailed product history and market-by-market availability are not specified in the supplied material.
Confectionery
TIMI
A named Konti brand included in the company’s leading-brand portfolio. Publicly supplied information does not establish a more precise product format or launch date.
Confectionery
Amour
A Konti confectionery brand included among the group’s key labels. The available reference does not provide detailed information about its assortment or positioning.
Biscuits and cookies
BiSKonti
A biscuit-oriented Konti brand within a portfolio that includes sandwich cookies, cookies and other baked confectionery. Exact product variants and introduction date are not documented in the supplied sources.
Confectionery and snack products
Jack
A leading Konti brand named in company portfolio descriptions. The available material does not identify its full assortment, geographic availability or launch history.
Brand decisions
2021
Reported purchase of Krasnaya ZaryaM&ABackground
Konti-Rus was reported to be seeking additional Russian production capacity.
Action taken
Reports alleged that United Partners acquired the bankrupt Krasnaya Zarya factory in Ivanovo for Konti for 452.2 million Russian roubles.
Aftermath
Borys Kolesnikov denied that the acquisition occurred, so the completion and ownership implications remain disputed.
Reported acquisition price. 452.2 million Russian roubles (2021 reported transaction)
2019
Develop a Kaniv factoryStrategyBackground
Konti was reported to have fallen to fifth place in Ukraine’s confectionery market and sought to rebuild capacity and market share.
Action taken
The company announced construction of a new factory near Kaniv in Cherkasy Oblast, with an intended workforce of approximately 200.
Aftermath
Later reports stated that Ukrainian production was relocated to Kaniv, although the supplied sources do not give detailed commissioning data.
2014
Consolidate Ukrainian productionStrategyBackground
The war in Donbas disrupted Konti facilities in Donetsk and Horlivka.
Action taken
Konti halted operations at those sites and consolidated production in Kostiantynivka, supported by logistics in Dnipro.
Aftermath
The group’s Ukrainian manufacturing footprint became more concentrated and exposed to the continuing regional conflict.
2008
Announce capacity and market-share investmentStrategyBackground
Konti held a substantial position in Ukraine and sought further growth in both Ukraine and Russia.
Action taken
Management announced an intended investment of approximately US$100 million to increase Ukrainian market share to 15% and improve its Russian share.
Aftermath
The sources do not establish whether the full investment program was completed.
Planned development investment. Approximately US$100 million announced (2008 plan)
2004
Acquire a Kursk confectionery factoryM&ABackground
Konti sought international manufacturing and market access by entering Russia.
Action taken
The company acquired a confectionery plant in Kursk and organized it as Konti-Rus.
Aftermath
The Russian operation became part of Konti’s cross-border production network until later regulatory and geopolitical disruptions.
Sources1 sources
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