Negro candy

Negro is a classic confectionery brand with a long history in Central and Eastern Europe. Originally invented in the early 1920s by Italian confectioner Pietro Negro, the candy became a staple of the region's candy market. It is famously known by its slogan "the chimney sweeper of the throat" due to its distinctive black color and its use as a throat-soothing lozenge, flavored with anise, menthol, and activated carbon.

Today, the brand's production and ownership are split. In Serbia and the surrounding Balkan markets, the brand is owned and manufactured by the Pionir company, based in Subotica. In Hungary, the brand was historically produced by Győri Keksz; however, following a series of acquisitions, the Hungarian rights to the brand were eventually acquired by Mondelēz International. Since 2019, the production for the Hungarian market was relocated to Gebze, Turkey.

Notably, a separate product line under the name 'Eti Negro' (a cocoa cream biscuit) existed in Turkey, produced by the Eti company. To avoid negative connotations and ensure cultural sensitivity, Eti rebranded its biscuit to 'Eti Nero' in 2021, though the traditional Serbian and Hungarian candies continue to use the historical name 'Negro' in their respective regions.