Funny Objects

Monument to Processed Cheese Druzhba

Monument to processed cheese Druzhba, Moscow.
Monument to processed cheese Druzhba, Moscow.

Processed cheese “Druzhba” has long become a symbol, because it has been familiar to several generations of residents of the entire former USSR. It is produced at the Karat processed cheese factory in Moscow, located very close to the Butyrskaya metro station.

In the early 2000s, when the 40th anniversary of the start of Druzhba production was celebrated, Karat decided to immortalize this cheese in a monument. No sooner said than done. In 2005, during the Moscow cheese festival, the monument was unveiled. It is located next to the plant.

Monument to processed cheese
Monument to processed cheese

However, the Monument to Processed Cheese that we see now is already different. So what happened?

The fact is that the main part of the monument – a huge processed cheese – was stolen. It happened a couple of years after the opening of the sculpture.

It didn’t take long to look for the loss. A few days later, the cheese was found in the vicinity of “Karat”. Apparently, the thieves could not take him away, which is understandable: the cheese is made of bronze, weighs 200 kg and is 1 by 1.5 meters in size.

Further, the monument was again unlucky – they began to build the Butyrskaya metro station nearby and it was moved. Then they were completely removed to the territory of the plant. It would seem on this sad fact that the fate of the unusual monument should have ended, but fortunately not. Most recently, in August 2020, Friendship was returned!

Processed cheese Druzhba
Processed cheese Druzhba

See how detailed the cheese is made!

There are all the inscriptions, the manufacturer’s address is visible, the bar code and the design of the packaging, which has already become classics! Lovely!

The monument immortalized seemingly two irreconcilable enemies – the Crow and the Fox from the famous fable of Ivan Krylov.

Processed cheese Druzhba
Processed cheese Druzhba

However, here they sit together on a tree stump, hug and hold the very same “Friendship”. Great friendship! Yes, in the case of the monument and the characters, this sounds twice symbolic.

You won’t have to swear and deceive each other – after all, the cheese is so big that it will be enough for two, and even you can treat someone. But this is spreading with the popularization of both friendship and “Friendship”.

Processed cheese Druzhba
Processed cheese Druzhba

Such beauty has returned to Moscow!

The authors of the project are professor Alexei Semyonov and artist Marina Leskova, sculptors are the father and son of the Shcherbakovs.

I think this is one of the best works of Salavat Shcherbakov, which does not raise any questions for me personally.

Brand shop of the Karat processed cheese factory, Moscow.
Brand shop of the Karat processed cheese factory, Moscow.

Poison with the monument is the “Karat” factory shop, where you can buy the very “Druzhba” and other products of the enterprise.

And around the corner – the factory entrance (or one of several), overlooking Rustaveli Street.

It was near her that the monument stood before. Now it is very close to the exit from the Butyrskaya metro station, occupies a more prominent and open place and looks at Ogorodny passage.

Monument to processed cheese Druzhba
Monument to processed cheese Druzhba
Moscow processed cheese factory Karat
Moscow processed cheese factory Karat
The inscription on the monument
The inscription on the monument