Inspired by nostalgic Eastern-European treats, Clio Snacks is taking the US – and now Canada – by storm
A perfect blend of creamy Greek yogurt and a rich chocolatey coating, Clio Snacks (Clio), brings a whole new concept to the snacking market. As the industry’s first and only refrigerated yogurt bar, Clio offers irresistible cheesecake-like taste and texture with the benefits of Greek yogurt, such as protein and probiotics, all in a fun and convenient format.
The Clio story is one of snacking reimagined – a nostalgic favorite, reinvented with creativity and the kind of persistence that makes big ideas stick. In 2013, Clio’s founder, Sergey Konchakovskiy, discovered some yogurt in his fridge that had thickened from over-draining. The cheesecake-like texture instantly reminded him of a popular Eastern European treat from his childhood in Ukraine. The moment sparked a unique idea: what if he strained Greek yogurt and dipped it in chocolate to create a delicious, refrigerated yogurt bar you could eat with your hands?
Sergey, his wife, and their kids spent countless late nights in the kitchen, melting chocolate, testing prototypes, and making plenty of mistakes. But eventually, something clicked. They had created something entirely new, unbelievably delicious, and they were eager to share it with the world.
Clio bars, however, couldn’t be made using existing processes. No co-manufacturer in the US could handle the hybrid of dairy and confectionery, so Sergey decided to build a solution on his own. He rented a garage and converted it into a food-safe production space. Then he tracked down decades-old Soviet-era machinery from Lithuania, shipped it overseas, and rebuilt it piece by piece.
“Sergey traveled to New York with a small batch of products and found a few stores that were willing to give them a chance,” opens John McGuckin, CEO of Clio Snacks. “The results were phenomenal; people loved the bars, and retailers wanted to come on board full-time.
“One day, Sergey received a voicemail from a Walmart buyer, saying he was launching a new refrigerated snacking set near the yogurt and desserts section and wanted Clio to be part of it. While the opportunity was incredibly exciting, it was also very challenging. Getting Clio on Walmart shelves required a massive amount of preparation, so Sergey began to scale production and invested in a 20,000-square-foot facility which quickly continued to expand. Today, Clio operates an 80,000-square-foot site in Piscataway, New Jersey and is on track to produce more than 150 million bars in 2026.”
Grab-and-go snack
John joined the company in 2021 to help the business continue to scale. “I loved the foundation behind the business, as it’s one of those great entrepreneurial stories that could only happen in America,” he says. “Prior to Clio, I was part of Sabra, which came into the newly emerging hummus market with a deliciously smooth hummus and grew from $15 million to more than $500 million in sales in just seven years. Like Sabra, Clio meets today’s consumer needs and is creating a category of its own. I see similar potential for Clio, and it is an honor and a blessing to be part of this journey. We’ve nearly tripled the business in terms of revenue in the past four years, with a CAGR over 30 percent.” 
John shares that the snacking category is exploding, and consumers are looking for permissibly indulgent options. Clio’s cheesecake-like taste with added benefits like protein and probiotics, all in convenient bar format, fits perfectly with consumer trends. However, alongside a great product, any successful scaling company needs a great team. Clio has attracted talented people with a deep understanding of the industry and consumer, and benefits from a very supportive board, led by Clio’s founder, which shares the team’s passion and enthusiasm for the brand.
“Many people don’t realize that Clio is a multi-channel solution,” John explains. “While our products are supplied in major retailers like Walmart, Target, and a large number of national and regional grocery chains, we’ve also experienced huge success in convenience stores and food service, especially with colleges and universities. Today, our bars are served in more than 250 colleges and universities, futureproofing our brand with the next generation of consumers. As an ideal grab-and-go snack, we’ve also expanded into convenience stores and can be found at airports across the US.”
High-quality convenience
In recent years, Clio has expanded its portfolio of delicious yogurt bars with exciting products like minis, zero sugar options, and yogurt-dipped offerings. The company has also expanded geographically, launching into the $3 billion Canadian yogurt market where it is seeing great success. To support its ongoing growth, Clio is building two additional product lines, bringing the total to seven lines by the end of 2027.
Clio’s Greek yogurt bars are redefining snacking, and with a team of passionate and innovative people, the company is sure to continue its success. “Next year, we’ll exceed $100 million in sales,” John concludes. “There’s no end in sight for Clio. We’re still at the beginning of our journey and eager to keep delivering delicious, high-quality, and convenient solutions for our consumer needs for years to come.”