Nestled in the municipality of Sipoo, in the Helsinki Ring of Industry just outside Finland’s capital region, Arla Oy’s dairy facility stands as a testament to long-term vision and operational excellence. Its location offers logistical advantages – close to consumers yet accessible from across Finland.
“The roots of dairy operations in Sipoo go back nearly a hundred years. Arla continues this strong dairy tradition in the same area. In Sipoo, we are close to consumers, but milk comes from all over Finland, even from Lapland. Raw milk is easier to transport than finished products,” says Patrik Ingman, Supply Chain Director at Arla Oy.
Dairy Innovation Rooted in Local Expertise
While Arla’s global innovation center is in Denmark, Finland plays a pivotal role in product development. For example, the popular Arla Protein line was developed in Sipoo, and the latest launch, Arla Luonto+ Poksis, combines natural yogurt with fruit bubbles in a fun and healthy format.
“The dairy market in Finland is strong. You can see this even in the grocery store, as there are a lot of different dairy products available compared to other countries. For example, in Denmark, there are far fewer shelf meters. The wide selection is a result of the fast pace of innovation – when there is a lot of demand, more innovations must be created,” says Ingman.
Investments for a Sustainable Dairy Future
Arla Foods Group aims to be carbon neutral in all its market areas by 2050. The company pays milk producers a premium for sustainability measures. The FarmAhead Incentive pricing model considers a total of 19 sustainability measures in addition to milk fat, protein and quality.
In Sipoo, the latest sustainability milestone is the installation of a nearly eight-meter-high electric boiler. “It’s like a giant 10-megawatt kettle, which produces steam to our everyday processes and heating,” Ingman explains. This investment will reduce factory emissions more than 90%. Additionally, all company-owned transport vehicles will transition to biogas within the next few years.
Reliable infrastructure supports the food industry
“Arla´s strength is good delivery reliability. It is challenging to succeed in this every day of the year, so it can also be considered a measure of our success in cooperation,” Ingman emphasizes. “We work closely with the municipality of Sipoo and Kerava Energy to enhance local infrastructure,” he adds.
Arla Oy employs 440 people in Finland, many of whom work in Sipoo. “We have easily over 10 nationalities at our plant,” Ingman notes. English is the official language across Arla globally, and it is actively used in Sipoo. Proximity to universities, research institutes, and other educational institutions as well as to big cities ensures that there is an excellent talent pool available. The company also looks after its’ personnel by offering a wide variety of sporting opportunities – a testament to promoting a healthy work-life balance.
Location in the Helsinki Ring of Industry offers a unique blend of historical continuity, skilled labor, sustainable practices, and innovation. Arla Oy’s success story exemplifies why companies should consider this Nordic hub for their next strategic move.
Arla Oy
Arla Oy is one of Finland’s largest food manufacturers and a subsidiary of the Danish-Swedish Arla Foods. The company focuses on providing high-quality dairy products using sustainable methods.
