Pionir Negro candy

Pionir Negro is a legendary hard-filled candy with a history spanning over a century. It was originally invented in the early 1920s by József Ruff in Subotica, which was then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and is now in modern-day Serbia. The candy is famous for its jet-black color, derived from activated carbon, and its unique flavor profile combining licorice, anise, and menthol. It is widely marketed under the slogan 'the chimney sweep of the throat' (Odzacar grla), a reference to its soothing effect on the respiratory tract, reinforced by the iconic chimney sweep character on its packaging.

Since 1946, the brand has been produced by Pionir, the successor to Ruff's original confectionery operations. While the candy was also historically produced in Hungary by Győri Keksz (a subsidiary of Mondelez), Pionir remains the primary manufacturer and owner of the brand. Today, the brand is owned by the Alco Group, a major Serbian business conglomerate headquartered in Belgrade, which has modernized production while maintaining the traditional recipe that has made Negro a staple across Southeast Europe and beyond.