Finnish food and its makers won international acclaim on 29 October as the Nordic Council of Ministers selected the winner of the Ny Nordisk Mat (New Nordic Food) award. This year’s theme was competitive product development, which brings together gastronomy, health and quality of life.

According to the Nordic Council of Ministers, Kasvis Galleria has successfully combined today’s main food trends – taste, healthiness, ease and comfort – in a manner that is competitive, innovative and fresh. Kasvis Galleria’s business concept and products realise in a unique way the ideas of the New Nordic Kitchen and Ny Nordisk Mat projects.

Kasvis Galleria, which is located in the city of Kuopio in central-eastern Finland, produces high value-added quality products from Finnish vegetables, berries and fruits. About 80% of the raw material comes from local growers. Kasvis Galleria is a farm-based family enterprise which now has about 20 employees.

Kasvis Galleria has preserved the best culinary traditions of Finland while developing modern products to make it easier to prepare food – both at home and in large institutional kitchens. All products taste great and have excellent texture. Many of the product groups also take account of special diets - including, for example, gluten and lactose free products.

– The products of Kasvis Galleria show in a very concrete way how great taste, healthiness and full enjoyment can all be present in a single product. It is fantastic that the long-term efforts of this pioneer have now been recognised internationally. We can be very proud of Finnish food and its makers, says Marja Innanen Secretary-General of the Finnish Food Promotion Programme.

Further information:
Tarja Peltola, Director, Kasvis Galleria Oy, tel. +358 (0)400 676 878
Marja Innanen, Secretary-General of Finnish Food Promotion Programme, member of Ny Nordisk Mat steering group, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 (0)40 777 5582
Magnus Gröntoft, Secretary of Ny Nordisk Mat, tel. +46 705 83 65 66, mg@norden.org