snEco crunchy cheese snacks, Mukachevo

snEco is a Ukrainian brand of crunchy cheese snacks that was born in Kharkiv and moved to Mukachevo after the start of the full-scale war. The founders, brothers Vadym and Pylyp Hryshyn, brought their equipment out of the frontline city, set it up temporarily in a hangar in Mukachevo and restarted production in Zakarpattia. Today part of the plant's energy comes from its own solar station, so the brand likes to say its cheese balls are dried by "the Transcarpathian sun". The company also has a second production site in Humenné, Slovakia. It is an example of a relocated business that not only survived but won international recognition from Mukachevo.

Why look for snEco

snEco is an industrial producer with no visitor programme: factory tours are not confirmed, and you should not turn up unannounced. Its value for travellers is different — a light, nourishing, very travel-friendly snack and an unusual souvenir from Mukachevo. The snacks are sold in supermarkets across Ukraine and in the brand's online shop with delivery; wholesale and partner enquiries are handled by phone and e-mail. The crunchy balls are ideal for a Carpathian hike or a long journey: they weigh almost nothing, need no fridge, keep for a long time and do not crumble to dust in a backpack.

What to try and buy

snEco balls and sticks are made from 100% natural cheese, with no oil, preservatives or colourings. A patented microwave-vacuum process removes the water from the cheese, which puffs up into a light, crunchy, high-protein ball. The developers compare the method to how food is prepared for astronauts. The snacks use certified cheeses of different kinds, both Ukrainian and imported.

• classic cheeses — gouda, cheddar, mozzarella, emmental;
• smoked suluguni, "Primaggio" and mould-ripened blue;
• a children's line, cheese-and-nut mixes, plus dried olives;
• tasting and gift sets — a handy present to bring back from a trip.

In 2024 snEco received the SIAL Innovation award at SIAL Paris, made the Forbes Ukraine "Next 250" list and the Gulfood 2025 shortlist. Production is certified to FSSC 22000, ISO 22000 and IFS Food. Zakarpattia has long been known for cheesemaking — from Hutsul bryndza on the mountain pastures to modern craft creameries on the plain — and snEco adds a completely new, high-tech take on cheese to that range.

Practical information

• Production address: 15 Berehivska-bichna St., Mukachevo, Zakarpattia region.
• Phone: +38 097 307 93 54 (main), +38 057 761 26 31 (Kharkiv number, may be out of date).
• E-mail: [email protected].
• Website: sneco.ua (online shop); Instagram and Facebook sneco.ua.
• Hours and prices: current prices are in the online shop; ask by phone in advance whether you can buy at the plant.

Getting there. Mukachevo is a major transport hub of Zakarpattia: its railway station on the Lviv–Chop line receives trains from Kyiv, Lviv and other cities, and the international Kyiv–Chop highway runs through the town. Berehivska-bichna Street lies in the south-western part of Mukachevo; from the centre or the station it is easiest to get there by taxi or by car using navigation. As this is a working plant, you will not be admitted without prior arrangement.

Website and social media: sneco.ua · instagram.com · facebook.com · youtube.com

Photos: sneco.ua; zaktour.gov.ua; img.epravda.com.ua.