Belarusians for 25 years thought this sweets brand was Russian — and fundamentally ignored it
Many Belarusians are shocked that sweets of the «Shakaladava» brand are produced in Belarus: «Really? By the name, I thought it was Russia — and didn't even pick it up».
A post appeared on the company's Threads account: «Born. You produce quality and delicious sweets in Belarus for 25 years. Everyone still thinks you are a Russian company».
For many, this was truly a revelation — the Russian-language name «Shokoladovo» was intuitively associated with Russia.
However, it turns out that products under the brand «Shakaladava» are produced by OJSC «Montbruk» at a factory in Kaliadzichy near Minsk.
«After so many years, I found out you are from Belarus», «You also have a resemblance to «Yashkino», yellow color, inscription…», «I always considered you a cheap Russian manufacturer from somewhere near Bryansk. Change the name!» — people write.
People admitted that they fundamentally ignored «Shakaladava» products because they were convinced of the sweets' Russian origin: «Every time I passed by, thinking you were a Russian factory, and Russian stuff is usually not tasty to me. It just ends in -ovo, and I associate that with a Russian settlement», «I also didn't buy it because of the name. I thought it was Russian chemicals».
There were also less principled commentators: «And I thought: surprisingly tasty for a Russian manufacturer».
Someone started suggesting alternative name options — Shakalodzishchy, Shakaladavichy, Shakaladzinsk, Shakaladzechna, and even Shakaladawshchyna.
There were suggestions to add something Belarusian to the wrapper — storks, bison, cornflowers. And, of course, to provide information in Belarusian on the wrapper: «Write in Belarusian and don't fool people».