diff --git a/lower-constraints.txt b/lower-constraints.txt
index 64b391d9..c72e02b4 100644
--- a/lower-constraints.txt
+++ b/lower-constraints.txt
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ keystoneauth1==3.4.0
 linecache2==1.0.0
 mccabe==0.4.0
 mock==2.0.0
-monasca-common==2.7.0
+monasca-common==2.16.0
 monotonic==0.6
 mox3==0.20.0
 msgpack-python==0.4.0
diff --git a/monasca_persister/conf/kafka_common.py b/monasca_persister/conf/kafka_common.py
index 1217b075..2877adff 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/conf/kafka_common.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/conf/kafka_common.py
@@ -42,7 +42,13 @@ kafka_common_opts = [
                default=32768),
     cfg.IntOpt('num_processors',
                help='Number of processes spawned by persister',
-               default=1)
+               default=1),
+    cfg.BoolOpt('legacy_kafka_client_enabled',
+                help='Enable legacy Kafka client. When set old version of '
+                     'kafka-python library is used. Message format version '
+                     'for the brokers should be set to 0.9.0.0 to avoid '
+                     'performance issues until all consumers are upgraded.',
+                default=True)
 ]
 
 kafka_common_group = cfg.OptGroup(name='kafka',
diff --git a/monasca_persister/kafka/__init__.py b/monasca_persister/kafka/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/monasca_persister/kafka/confluent_kafka_persister.py b/monasca_persister/kafka/confluent_kafka_persister.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a9c5202a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/monasca_persister/kafka/confluent_kafka_persister.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#  Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#  not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#  a copy of the License at
+#
+#       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#  Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#  distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#  WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#  License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#  under the License.
+from monasca_common.kafka import client_factory
+import six
+
+from monasca_persister.repositories import persister
+from monasca_persister.repositories import singleton
+
+
+@six.add_metaclass(singleton.Singleton)
+class ConfluentKafkaPersister(persister.Persister):
+
+    def __init__(self, kafka_conf, repository, client_id=""):
+        super(ConfluentKafkaPersister, self).__init__(kafka_conf, repository)
+        self._consumer = client_factory.get_kafka_consumer(
+            kafka_url=kafka_conf.uri,
+            kafka_consumer_group=kafka_conf.group_id,
+            kafka_topic=kafka_conf.topic,
+            client_id=client_id,
+            repartition_callback=ConfluentKafkaPersister.flush,
+            commit_callback=self._flush,
+            max_commit_interval=kafka_conf.max_wait_time_seconds
+        )
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def flush(kafka_consumer, partitions):
+        p = ConfluentKafkaPersister()
+        p._flush()
diff --git a/monasca_persister/kafka/legacy_kafka_persister.py b/monasca_persister/kafka/legacy_kafka_persister.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8289127d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/monasca_persister/kafka/legacy_kafka_persister.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#  Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#  not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#  a copy of the License at
+#
+#       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#  Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#  distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#  WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#  License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#  under the License.
+from monasca_common.kafka import client_factory
+import six
+
+from monasca_persister.repositories import persister
+from monasca_persister.repositories import singleton
+
+
+@six.add_metaclass(singleton.Singleton)
+class LegacyKafkaPersister(persister.Persister):
+
+    def __init__(self, kafka_conf, zookeeper_conf, repository):
+        super(LegacyKafkaPersister, self).__init__(kafka_conf, repository)
+        self._consumer = client_factory.get_kafka_consumer(
+            kafka_url=kafka_conf.uri,
+            kafka_consumer_group=kafka_conf.group_id,
+            kafka_topic=kafka_conf.topic,
+            zookeeper_url=zookeeper_conf.uri,
+            zookeeper_path=kafka_conf.zookeeper_path,
+            use_legacy_client=True,
+            repartition_callback=self._flush,
+            commit_callback=self._flush,
+            max_commit_interval=kafka_conf.max_wait_time_seconds
+        )
diff --git a/monasca_persister/persister.py b/monasca_persister/persister.py
index 637abbaf..ebf92f3c 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/persister.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/persister.py
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log
 
 from monasca_persister import config
-from monasca_persister.repositories import persister
+from monasca_persister.kafka import confluent_kafka_persister
+from monasca_persister.kafka import legacy_kafka_persister
 
 
 LOG = log.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -91,8 +92,12 @@ def clean_exit(signum, frame=None):
 
 def start_process(respository, kafka_config):
     LOG.info("start process: {}".format(respository))
-    m_persister = persister.Persister(kafka_config, cfg.CONF.zookeeper,
-                                      respository)
+    if kafka_config.legacy_kafka_client_enabled:
+        m_persister = legacy_kafka_persister.LegacyKafkaPersister(
+            kafka_config, cfg.CONF.zookeeper, respository)
+    else:
+        m_persister = confluent_kafka_persister.ConfluentKafkaPersister(
+            kafka_config, respository)
     m_persister.run()
 
 
diff --git a/monasca_persister/repositories/persister.py b/monasca_persister/repositories/persister.py
index c66cab84..0be7fff0 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/repositories/persister.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/repositories/persister.py
@@ -13,36 +13,25 @@
 # implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
+from abc import ABCMeta
 import os
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log
+import six
 
-from monasca_common.kafka import consumer
+from monasca_persister.repositories import singleton
 
 LOG = log.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class Persister(object):
-
-    def __init__(self, kafka_conf, zookeeper_conf, repository):
+@six.add_metaclass(singleton.Singleton)
+class Persister(six.with_metaclass(ABCMeta, object)):
 
+    def __init__(self, kafka_conf, repository):
         self._data_points = []
-
         self._kafka_topic = kafka_conf.topic
-
         self._batch_size = kafka_conf.batch_size
-
-        self._consumer = consumer.KafkaConsumer(
-            kafka_conf.uri,
-            zookeeper_conf.uri,
-            kafka_conf.zookeeper_path,
-            kafka_conf.group_id,
-            kafka_conf.topic,
-            repartition_callback=self._flush,
-            commit_callback=self._flush,
-            commit_timeout=kafka_conf.max_wait_time_seconds)
-
         self.repository = repository()
 
     def _flush(self):
@@ -76,9 +65,8 @@ class Persister(object):
 
     def run(self):
         try:
-            for raw_message in self._consumer:
+            for message in self._consumer:
                 try:
-                    message = raw_message[1]
                     data_point = self.repository.process_message(message)
                     self._data_points.append(data_point)
                 except Exception:
diff --git a/monasca_persister/repositories/singleton.py b/monasca_persister/repositories/singleton.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c69e0d04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/monasca_persister/repositories/singleton.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+
+class Singleton(type):
+    def __init__(cls, name, bases, d):
+        super(Singleton, cls).__init__(name, bases, d)
+        cls.instance = None
+
+    def __call__(cls, *args, **kw):
+        if cls.instance is None:
+            cls.instance = super(Singleton, cls).__call__(*args, **kw)
+        return cls.instance
diff --git a/monasca_persister/repositories/utils.py b/monasca_persister/repositories/utils.py
index fbf14133..154ad94f 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/repositories/utils.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/repositories/utils.py
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ import ujson as json
 
 
 def parse_measurement_message(message):
-    decoded_message = json.loads(message.message.value)
+
+    decoded_message = json.loads(message.value())
 
     metric = decoded_message['metric']
 
@@ -39,7 +40,8 @@ def parse_measurement_message(message):
 
 
 def parse_alarm_state_hist_message(message):
-    decoded_message = json.loads(message.message.value)
+
+    decoded_message = json.loads(message.value())
 
     alarm_transitioned = decoded_message['alarm-transitioned']
 
@@ -94,7 +96,8 @@ def parse_alarm_state_hist_message(message):
 
 
 def parse_events_message(message):
-    decoded_message = json.loads(message.message.value)
+
+    decoded_message = json.loads(message.value())
     event_type = decoded_message['event']['event_type']
     timestamp = decoded_message['event']['timestamp']
     payload = decoded_message['event']['payload']
diff --git a/monasca_persister/tests/test_cassandra_alarm_state_history_repository.py b/monasca_persister/tests/test_cassandra_alarm_state_history_repository.py
index 3136ddfc..c96c1e08 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/tests/test_cassandra_alarm_state_history_repository.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/tests/test_cassandra_alarm_state_history_repository.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class TestAlarmStateHistoryRepo(base.BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_process_message(self):
         message = Mock()
-        message.message.value = """{
+        message.value.return_value = """{
             "alarm-transitioned": {
                 "alarmId": "dummyid",
                 "metrics": "dummymetrics",
diff --git a/monasca_persister/tests/test_events.py b/monasca_persister/tests/test_events.py
index 95115dca..fd9f5ee0 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/tests/test_events.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/tests/test_events.py
@@ -11,15 +11,16 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
-
+from datetime import datetime
 import json
 import os
+
+from mock import patch
 from oslotest import base
+from testtools import matchers
+
 from monasca_persister.repositories.elasticsearch import events_repository
 from monasca_persister.repositories import utils
-from mock import Mock
-from testtools import matchers
-from datetime import datetime
 
 
 class TestEvents(base.BaseTestCase):
@@ -58,10 +59,13 @@ class TestEvents(base.BaseTestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual('2017-08-07', normalize_timestamp('2017-08-07 11:22:43'))
 
-    def _load_event(self, event_name):
+    @patch('monasca_common.kafka.legacy_kafka_message')
+    def _load_event(self, event_name, mock_kafka_message):
         if self.events is None:
             filepath = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'events.json')
             self.events = json.load(open(filepath))
         # create a kafka message envelope
         value = json.dumps(self.events[event_name])
-        return Mock(message=Mock(value=value))
+        message = mock_kafka_message.LegacyKafkaMessage()
+        message.value.return_value = value
+        return message
diff --git a/monasca_persister/tests/test_influxdb_alarm_state_history_repository.py b/monasca_persister/tests/test_influxdb_alarm_state_history_repository.py
index da169aad..6f55e481 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/tests/test_influxdb_alarm_state_history_repository.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/tests/test_influxdb_alarm_state_history_repository.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class TestInfluxdbAlarmStateHistoryRepo(base.BaseTestCase):
     def test_process_message(self):
         message = Mock()
 
-        message.message.value = """{
+        message.value.return_value = """{
             "alarm-transitioned": {
                 "alarmId": "dummyid",
                 "metrics": "dummymetrics",
diff --git a/monasca_persister/tests/test_influxdb_metrics_repository.py b/monasca_persister/tests/test_influxdb_metrics_repository.py
index d8280d1f..0aab456d 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/tests/test_influxdb_metrics_repository.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/tests/test_influxdb_metrics_repository.py
@@ -60,4 +60,6 @@ class TestMetricInfluxdbRepository(base.BaseTestCase):
                 "creation_time":1554725988
             }
         '''
-        return Mock(message=Mock(value=metric))
+        message = Mock()
+        message.value.return_value = metric
+        return message
diff --git a/monasca_persister/tests/test_persister_main.py b/monasca_persister/tests/test_persister_main.py
index 964df307..dc4f590c 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/tests/test_persister_main.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/tests/test_persister_main.py
@@ -188,7 +188,8 @@ class TestPersister(base.BaseTestCase):
         fake_kafka_config = Mock()
         fake_repository = Mock()
 
-        with patch('monasca_persister.repositories.persister.Persister') as mock_persister_class:
+        with patch('monasca_persister.kafka.legacy_kafka_persister'
+                   '.LegacyKafkaPersister') as mock_persister_class:
             self.persister.start_process(fake_repository, fake_kafka_config)
 
             mock_persister_class.assert_called_once_with(
diff --git a/monasca_persister/tests/test_persister_repo.py b/monasca_persister/tests/test_persister_repo.py
index fc621e16..0bb94b4f 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/tests/test_persister_repo.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/tests/test_persister_repo.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from oslotest import base
 from oslo_config import cfg
 
 from monasca_common.kafka import consumer
-from monasca_persister.repositories.persister import Persister
+from monasca_persister.kafka.legacy_kafka_persister import LegacyKafkaPersister
 from monasca_persister.repositories.persister import LOG
 
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class TestPersisterRepo(base.BaseTestCase):
         self._set_patchers()
         self._set_mocks()
 
-        self.persister = Persister(self.mock_kafka, self.mock_zookeeper, Mock())
+        self.persister = LegacyKafkaPersister(self.mock_kafka, self.mock_zookeeper, Mock())
 
     def _set_mocks(self):
         self.mock_kafka = Mock()
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class TestPersisterRepo(base.BaseTestCase):
                           return_value='message'):
             with patch.object(self.persister, '_consumer', return_value=Mock()) as mock_consumer:
                 self.persister._data_points = ['a']
-                self.persister._consumer.__iter__.return_value = ['aa', 'bb']
+                self.persister._consumer.__iter__.return_value = ('aa', 'bb')
                 self.persister._batch_size = 1
                 self.persister.run()
                 mock_consumer.commit.assert_called()
diff --git a/monasca_persister/tests/test_utils.py b/monasca_persister/tests/test_utils.py
index faca45f0..f2991ee1 100644
--- a/monasca_persister/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/monasca_persister/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class TestUtils(base.BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_parse_measurement_message(self):
         message = Mock()
-        message.message.value = """{
+        message.value.return_value = """{
             "metric": {
               "name": "metric_name",
               "timestamp": "metric_timestamp",
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class TestUtils(base.BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_parse_alarm_state_hist_message(self):
         message = Mock()
-        message.message.value = """{
+        message.value.return_value = """{
             "alarm-transitioned": {
                 "alarmId": "dummyid",
                 "metrics": "dummymetrics",
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class TestUtils(base.BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_parse_events_message(self):
         message = Mock()
-        message.message.value = """{
+        message.value.return_value = """{
             "event": {
                 "event_type": "dummy_event_type",
                 "timestamp": "dummy_timestamp",
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/add_legacy_kafka_client_enabled_option-b6830637029dbca7.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/add_legacy_kafka_client_enabled_option-b6830637029dbca7.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..963a58d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/add_legacy_kafka_client_enabled_option-b6830637029dbca7.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    Configuration option `legacy_kafka_client_enabled` added to allow working
+    with both legacy kafka-python and new Confluent Kafka client. Please set
+    message format version for the Kafka brokers to 0.9.0.0 to avoid
+    performance issues until all consumers are upgraded.
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 44ca00a1..9754709b 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ oslo.config>=5.2.0 # Apache-2.0
 oslo.log>=3.36.0 # Apache-2.0
 
 six>=1.10.0 # MIT
-monasca-common>=2.7.0 # Apache-2.0
+monasca-common>=2.16.0 # Apache-2.0