“You are an example for the industry”

Since 2006, the two trade magazines pet and PET worldwide have been presenting the Personality of the Year award annually at the Heimtier-Kongress or the International Pet Conference. The winner is selected by the respective editorial team. The first winner was Ard Malenstein of the Dutch IJsvogel Group. Other personalities of the Year in the following years included Torsten Toeller (Fressnapf), Rolf Boffa (Qualipet), Nicola Vaccari (Ferplast) and Pavel Bouska (Vafo Group) – personalities who could come from the Who’s Who of the pet industry.

At the International Pet Conference in Brussels, moderator Ralf Majer-Abele, who is also editor-in-chief of the two magazines, explained why pet and PET worldwide created this award in the first place. “We want to remind people that the development of the pet industry is not only driven by money, financial investors and modern technologies, but also by the ideas, zeal and passionate commitment of individuals.” These attributes are particularly applicable to this year’s personality. As Chairwoman of the Board of the Suziria Group, Polina Kosharna is largely responsible for the group’s fortunes. She and her team have achieved incredible things since Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Even in the face of the adversity of this war, Suziria has managed to continue its expansion. “Today, the Suziria Group is stronger than ever as a player in the pet industry,” said Majer-Abele, emphasising the group’s achievements.

Suziria’s example shows what change and adaptation to new circumstances can mean. At the International Pet Conference, there was much talk of digital transformation, of developing into an omnichannel retail company, and of the impact of AI on the pet industry. “None of us can imagine the constant change that Polina Kosharna and her company have been facing for months. They have to expect every day that what they have laboriously built up will be destroyed by a rocket in one night,” explained Majer-Abele.

The company’s warehouse in the fiercely contested eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv was indeed destroyed by a rocket attack. The Suziria Group has therefore moved part of its production to the western Ukrainian city of Kalush and built new company premises there. ‘Despite all these adverse circumstances, you and your company have consistently followed your path and always adapted to new circumstances. You are an example for the entire pet industry,” emphasised Majer-Abele.

The Polish company Fiboo also received much applause for winning the Best Newcomer Award. It managed to get the most votes from the readers of PET worldwide and the participants of the International Pet Conference. The newcomers were understandably delighted. Fiboo is a Polish brand of pet accessories that are 100 per cent designed, developed and manufactured in Poland with love for animals and the planet. Every single product line in the company’s portfolio – toys, treat mats and feeding bowls – is made from environmentally friendly materials that not only contain recycled plastic but are also fully recycl­able. The company is committed to making its products not only sustainable but also stylish.