Today, BAYADERA GROUP is the largest alcohol holding in Eastern Europe. However, back in 1991, it started as a distribution company. The company's long history began with the creation of the HLIBNY DAR vodka brand in 2002. This year, the national brand celebrates its 23rd anniversary.
Over the 23 years of its existence, the HLIBNY DAR brand has repeatedly improved its design and recipe. Only the quality and values of the brand remain unchanged: love for the native land and loyalty to its traditions, respect for people and their work.
The fresh aroma of warm bread with a crispy, fragrant crust reminds us of endless wheat fields, golden ears, ripe grain and the hot sun of the Ukrainian steppes. The great and sincere Ukrainian soul is embodied in the unique grain vodka HLIBNY DAR, which is born from crystal clear artesian water from the protected lands of Cherkasy, Luxe class alcohol and the best aromatic spirits of wheat, rye and barley. HLIBNY DAR stands for strength, inner power, reliability, support and dignity. It is a trademark that symbolizes and supports eternal values: family, friends, family roots, loyalty to folk traditions. Today, HLIBNY DAR is one of the best grain vodkas in Ukraine and is among the TOP 7 best-selling vodka brands in the world according to the authoritative international publications Drinks International and The Spirits Business.
History of the HLIBNY DAR brand
2002 - 2003 - Launch of the Hlibny Dar brand
In 2002, vodka under the brand name “Hlibny Dar” was launched, which later became the company's flagship brand. The brand was immediately positioned on the values of quality, honesty and adherence to traditions, reflecting the name “gift of bread” in the grain-based recipe.
2004 - 2009 - Growth and the path to leadership
The first years were marked by fierce competition in the oversaturated Ukrainian vodka market. However, the focus on high quality at a fair price was successful: sales grew steadily. The first export shipments were made in 2005. By the end of 2008-2009, Hlibny Dar rapidly became a leader. Thanks to this breakthrough, the brand became the No. 1 vodka in Ukraine (in terms of sales), outperforming other domestic producers, and broke into the top three best-selling vodkas in the world, behind only Smirnoff and Zelena Marka. In 2009, the authoritative magazine Impact named Hlibny Dar “the main sensation of the year” in the global vodka market.
2010 - 2012 - International recognition
Having consolidated its leadership at home, the brand was recognized abroad. In the Millionaires Club 2012 ranking of the British magazine Drinks International, Hlibny Dar was included in the TOP-3 global vodka brands, among which it was the only Ukrainian. By this time, the geography of exports covered dozens of countries. The brand was regularly ranked in international ratings alongside such global giants as Smirnoff and Absolut, which testified to its high status.
2013 - 2014 - Strengthening of positions
The company continued to hold the leading position in the Ukrainian vodka market with a share of 26.8%, where Hlibny Dar plays a significant role. The annexation of Crimea and the conflict in the east of the country by Russia had a negative impact on the industry, but the company retained its leadership, compensating for the fall in domestic demand with an increase in exports. It was in 2014 that Hlibny Dar became the No. 1 brand among Ukrainian vodkas.
2015 - 2018 - Further development and innovation
Gradually, the brand began to unify the international name as “HLIBNY DAR” for recognition abroad. The Craft Edition series of craft vodkas with original recipes, which were produced in small batches, was launched. During this time, exports reached more than 25 countries. The brand's share in the vodka market was 18% as of 2017.
2019 - 2021 - Export expansion and digitalization
“HLIBNY DAR remained in the TOP 5 vodka brands in the world with global sales of 76.5 million liters. Digital channels were developing in parallel: official brand pages on social media, digital promotion of videos, etc. In addition, export markets expanded to 45 countries, with deliveries even to Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, Eritrea).
2022 - 2023 - The test of war
After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (February 2022), the domestic alcohol market shrank, but the brand quickly adapted by launching patriotic limited editions. The company cut ties with the aggressor markets. In 2022, the license for bottling HLIBNY DAR vodka in Belarus was revoked. More than 4,200,000 hryvnias were raised thanks to the project “Donate to Victory”. UAH 10 of the cost of a bottle of HLIBNY DAR vodka was transferred for four months in 2022 to the largest fund for helping the Ukrainian military, Come Back Alive. The company opened a representative office in Poland to resume European exports. The company's share in the Ukrainian vodka market reached 35%.
2024 - 2025 - Present
The HLIBNY DAR brand has retained the status of the BAYADERA GROUP's business card. Expansion to foreign markets continues. Despite the war, vodka production has recovered and HLIBNY DAR remains a major player.
Production history
It can be said that the company's development went hand in hand with the success of the HLIBNY DAR brand. A year after the launch of the brand, the capacity of the vodka production facility in Kamianka, Cherkasy region, was no longer enough. Moreover, the question arose of building its own vodka plant. Even the approach to choosing a site for the plant was innovative. Because vodka is 60% water. Therefore, at first, they were looking for high-quality water that would be ideal for the best spirits from which HLIBNY DAR is produced. Only the ninth test well met the water quality requirements and the required volumes. This is how the construction of the new enterprise was laid. It all sounds simple, but at the design stage, the best Ukrainian and European vodka experts and the general contractor who built the port in Tallinn were involved. In 2005, the most powerful and modern vodka production plant, National Vodka Company LLC, opened its doors in the village of Stepanky, Cherkasy region.
Today, the plant is a budget-forming enterprise in Cherkasy region, providing 600 jobs and being the largest taxpayer in the alcohol industry.
HLIBNY DAR today
BAYADERA GROUP is a leader in vodka production in Ukraine with a market share of more than 30%. In 2024, the share of HLIBNY DAR production in the company's structure was almost 40%. Over the past year, more than 92 million bottles of vodka products (0.5 liters 40 degrees) were produced, of which 37.3 million were HLIBNY DAR. The plant has developed 260 recipes, including 31 recipes for HLIBNY DAR vodkas.
Bread is born from grain, just like HLIBNY DAR vodka. HLIBNY DAR is a vodka with a perfect combination of extremely mild taste, light aroma and forty-degree strength - true Ukrainian classic! Grain, ears of grain, wheat fields are part of the DNA of every Ukrainian. A wheat field is depicted on our flag as a symbol of a rich and fertile land. No important event is complete without bread: a wedding, a family celebration, or sacred rites. In our culture, bread signifies hospitality, sincerity and goodwill, reflecting respect for labor and the gifts of the land. Bread is a true symbol of life that has accompanied us throughout history. HLIBNY DAR is aged softness, trust of generations; it is where your home is.
“For 23 years, HLIBNY DAR has remained faithful to Ukrainian traditions. HLIBNY DAR is a worthy representative of Made in Ukraine on the world stage, forming a positive image of high-quality Ukrainian products and our homeland. I sincerely wish Ukraine longevity under the yellow-blue flag on a free and breadthy land! “ - said Anatoly Korchinsky, CEO of BAYADERA GROUP
Through a powerful distribution network of 20 branches, HLIBNY DAR is present all over Ukraine. Due to the high sales of this product, the company pays all taxes on time and donates to the Armed Forces. During the war, the company has paid more than UAH 13.2 billion in taxes to the state budget, and has donated more than UAH 88 million to the Armed Forces. Together to Victory!
You can buy HLIBNY DAR here:
https://bayadera.ua/site/search?search-filter=%D0%A5%D0%BB%D1%96%D0%B1
