#LahtiBusinessRegion

Food & beverage industry

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The best groundwater in the world, the availability of key raw materials and the excellent location in terms of logistics are significant reasons why one of Finland’s largest food industry clusters is located in the Lahti region. The Lahti region is particularly home to grain processing businesses in the beverage and bakery industries. Together with the local farmers, these businesses form the largest and most diverse cluster of grain expertise in Finland.

Food and beverage is also one of the key themes of the Smart Specia­lisation Strategy of the Päijät-Häme region, which demon­strates the region’s desire to develop the sector and create new oppor­tunities in the Lahti region.

READ ABOUT BUSINESS OPPOR­TUNITIES!

Best water in the world

The Lahti region also supplies businesses with the best groundwater in the world – straight from the tap! The daily amount of groundwater filtered by the eskers of Salpausselkä amounts to 100,000 m3.

Grain Cluster

The Päijät-Häme region is home to the most significant cluster of grain expertise in Finland. The evolving, modern Päijät-Häme Grain Cluster has built a system of active interaction between primary production and the manufacturing industry.

Location

The location of the Lahti region is superb in terms of logistics and domestic and inter­national distribution: 80% of the domestic market is within a 1.5-hour journey, while an inter­national airport is an hour away.

Producers nearby

In addition to grain producers, the Lahti region is also home to numerous producers of berries, fruit and vegetables as well as milk and meat.

University city

Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT) and LAB University of Applied Sciences support product development and research, and they train new skilled employees for businesses together with Salpaus Further Education.

Expert of Finnish grain – from bran to germ

The Päijät-Häme Grain Cluster represents the entire value chain from farmers to industry and retail – from large listed companies to smaller bakeries, breweries and traditional mill operations.

The Grain Cluster has significant ongoing investments in the Lahti region. These investments, EUR 165 million in total, will be implemented by 2023 once Viking Malt builds a new malthouse in the Pippo-Kujala area. The value of this particular investment is EUR 90 million. Fazer will expand its mill operations and bring the production of xylitol back to Finland by investing EUR 50 million in a xylitol factory to be built in Lahti. 

The businesses involved in the Päijät-Häme Grain Cluster are constantly evolving as the eating habits of consumers and trends change. The businesses have also been at the forefront of circular economy; they are conti­nuously seeking new applications for their side streams and creating new business out of side fractions. Learn more about the Grain Cluster businesses.

Orimattila wheat field.

EUR 165 million

in investments 

3,000

employees

EUR 600 million

in turnover

1,528

producer farms


Ainoa Winery's wine bottles on the table.

 Great flavours and new products from the Lahti region

Inter­na­tionally awarded wines, ciders, salmiakki (salty liquorice), coffee roasteries, local wines, bottled groundwater, organic sausages – these are examples of the diverse local food industry. 

Water brands and bottling plants aiming for the inter­national market have developed around this excep­tionally clean groundwater. There are a total of 82 processed food businesses in the Lahti region. Among them, bakery businesses are the most numerous, followed by businesses that process vegetables, berries and fruit. 

The Lahti region offers room and oppor­tunities for bold ideas and new businesses that appreciate quality, skills and clean raw materials!

Product development and research

New, healthy and sustainably produced products are trialled and developed conti­nuously. For example, the number of grain-based products has increased and become more diverse rapidly. High-level research and product development is being conducted in the Lahti region to commercialise and process oat, for instance. 

LUT University and LAB University of Applied Sciences support the product development and research efforts of businesses. At present, higher education insti­tutions and businesses are partnering to develop a joint testing and product development environment – the food laboratory of LAB University of Applied Sciences. It can be used to test and develop various foods and food production methods as well as research and improve product properties. 

For example, research and pilot projects aimed at making use of side streams in many ways will be carried out based on businesses’ needs. 

 

Photo: Fazer Group
 

Fazer laboratory technicians in the laboratory.

The confec­tionery producer Fazer is planning an enormous confec­tionery factory investment in Lahti. It will be the largest investment in the industry in years. One of the factors that led to Lahti being chosen was that “the location is great in terms of logistics from the perspective of customers, storage facilities and important harbours”.  

- Markus Hellström, Managing Director of Fazer Confec­tionery |  Read Fazer’s bulletin

Watch videos of the Päijät-Häme Grain Cluster’s beverage and bread chain

Also read stories about food from the Lahti region:

At your company’s service – contact us!

LADEC's Isto Vanhamäki.
Isto Vanhamäki

+358 40 727 6376
isto.vanhamaki@ladec.fi

Sari Kesäniemi

+358 50 383 8328
sari.kesaniemi@ladec.fi

Pekka Komu

+358 40 741 3299
pekka.komu@ladec.fi

Marian Vainiomäki

+358 40 505 7775
marian.vainiomaki@ladec.fi

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