Place of birth
Born on November 13, 1972, in Dnipro
Education
Studied at the Tyumen Industrial Institute.
In 1997, he graduated from the State Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine in Dnipro with a degree in "Automation of Metallurgical Processes and Production."
In 2001, he graduated from the Central Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine with a degree in "Organizational Management."
Career
Volodymyr Kostelman began his entrepreneurial career in 1992, engaging in the retail trade of coffee, tea, chocolate, and cigarettes.
In 1997, he founded Fozzy Group.
That same year, the first Fozzy Cash&Carry hypermarket opened.
In 1998, the first "Silpo" supermarket was opened.
In 2000, Nizhyn Canning Plant LLC joined the Fozzy Group.
In 2002, the first "Fora" store, focused on selling goods near home, opened.
In 2008, the "Bila Romashka" pharmacy chain was launched, and in 2012, the first Le Silpo delicatessen markets opened.
In 2014, the "Silpo Voyage" travel agency chain was established.
In 2016, Volodymyr Kostelman and photographer Kirill Kislakov opened "BarmanDiktat."
In addition, in 2016, Fozzy Group expanded its business by launching the "THRASH! ТРАШ!" retail chain and opening the POSITANO restaurant and pizzeria, which in 2021 was included in Gambero Rosso’s list of the best Italian restaurants in Ukraine.
In 2018, the restaurants Escobar and Who&Why.Drinkery opened.
In 2021, Fozzy Group launched the APOLLO NEXT sports club chain, the MAUDAU marketplace, and the E-ZOO pet supply store.
In 2022, Fozzy Group launched the online dry cleaning service MINK and the LOKO grocery delivery service.
In 2024, Fozzy Group opened the Doctor Sam medical center in Kyiv.
His business partners include Roman Chigir, Oleg Sotnikov, and Yuriy Gnatenko.
Hobbies
He writes poetry.
In 1988, together with Roman Chigir, he founded the poetry group "Poé Boé."
To this day, they remain its only members.
He funds the international poetry festival "Kyiv Laurels."
From 2001 to 2015, he was the lead vocalist and lead guitarist in the band "Remont Vody," which he founded together with his friends Roman Chigir and Oleg Sotnikov.
Since 2015, he has been the vocalist and lead guitarist for the band "Gibky Chaplin."
Net Worth
A Ukrainian entrepreneur and musician, CEO of Fozzy Group, and dollar millionaire, he ranked 42nd among the richest Ukrainians in 2020 according to Forbes magazine, with a net worth estimated at $215 million.
Family
Unmarried, father of six children.