From Ukraine to Europe and Japan

Who founded Suziria?

My parents, Serhiy and Tetiana Potapov. They were talented engineers, both working at Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute. Like many at the time, they faced the challenges of the post-Soviet transition and decided to try their hand at business. They chose the pet sector because of my mother Tetiana’s hobby – she had recently gotten a pedigree cat named Dolly. That passion grew into felinology, organizing cat shows, and eventually becoming an international judge. When they saw that this niche was just emerging, they decided to enter it.

And when did you join the family business?

From the very beginning. I was 14, my older brother was 20. We watched our parents do everything together: setting up the first store, driving our own minibus to Poland – at that time a hub of products – to choose and load products, putting up price tags. They involved us in all of it, even taking us on sourcing trips. Over time, my parents realized that European producers were sourcing part of their raw materials from Ukraine and decided to launch manufacturing in Kharkiv. The idea was simple: produce locally whatever could be made in an accessible segment and import premium brands from the best suppliers.

What were the most difficult moments Suziria Group has faced?

First, the early years of Ukraine’s independence, when the state and economy were still forming. It was both inspiring and uncertain, with constant adaptation to currency shifts and economic turbulence. Then came the crises of 2008 and 2014, when we had to make critical decisions quickly. That was when we were tested on reputation: no matter what, we always paid salaries on time and settled with suppliers. For us, it’s a hard rule – in a crisis, you pay your debts. I learned that from my father, and after his passing I had to apply that rule myself during the post-2014 crisis.

Was there a point of no return, when despite all the challenges you knew there was no stepping back?

Without a doubt, it was the last week of February and the first week of March 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It was the hardest, most intense period, when everything felt like all or nothing. That’s when a new principle emerged in our company: ‘War is no excuse to lower standards.’ The way we build relationships, serve clients, deliver on promises, and maintain quality – that defines not only our business but the new reality of the entire country under wartime conditions.

Why do you keep retail, distribution,…