Ukraine’s National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) has added Viciunai Group, a leading European seafood producer known to consumers for its top product, Vici branded crab sticks, to the list of international sponsors of war, the agency’s press service reported on Telegram.
“After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, representatives of the Viciunai Group promised that the company would leave the Russian market. Vici does not stop its facilities in Russia, is looking for new employees and pays significant taxes to the aggressor’s budget. This was the basis for adding Viciunai Group to the list of international sponsors of the war,” the statement said.
The NAPC noted that in March 2022, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the head of the Lithuanian group, Sharunas Matijosatis, said that the company would leave the Russian market within three to four months. However, it does not stop working in Russia and remains one of the most favorite brands of Russian consumers.
“Viciunai is conducting its business in Russia as usual without any layoffs, successfully defending its Russian trademark in court, and continues to recruit staff for its subsidiaries, supporting the labor market in Russia,” the agency explained.
As an example of inconsistency in the company’s statements and actions, the NACP cited the activities of the production complex Viciunai-Rus LLC (Kaliningrad region), which is the largest enterprise of the Viciunai Group, employing 1500 people. In 2022, its net profit increased by 156% to $20 million.
In addition, Viciunai’s subsidiary BaltCo LLC, being the company’s official representative in Russia, provides services for the transportation of fish cooking, fish processing, surimi and seafood products. Its net profit for 2022 was $2.5 million.
“So far, well-known brands such as Vici continue to be on the Russian market. Despite all the aggressor’s war crimes, the world is getting the wrong signal that Russia remains part of international economic processes. And Russians see that the democratic world has not turned its back on them, and they are doing everything right. Many companies have already made the right choice in favor of the values of democracy and integrity by leaving the Russian market. However, Viciunai Group was not one of them and failed to go beyond its empty promises,” said NAPC Chairman Oleksandr Novikov.
Viciunai Group is a global food manufacturer and supplier. It is the largest surimi processor in the world and one of the most economically powerful seafood producers in Europe. The group is headquartered in Lithuania and has plants in Lithuania, Spain, Estonia and Russia.
