Kesko Oyj : Local food dating brings together local and small produces and K-food retailers

The K Group's objective is to promote the sale of local food during Finland's centenary celebrations - Suomi 100. The local food producers have the opportunity to present their products to several K-retailers at one time, while also discussing and sharing ideas on issues like product packaging, presentation or logistics solutions with K Group representatives. For K-food retailers, these occasions provide an insight into the range of local food available and new business opportunities.

- During its four years of operation the Local Food Dating concept has been a real success story that has established itself as a networking event held every summer between local food producers and K-food retailers, says Timo Jäske, Sustainability Manager of Kesko's grocery trade.

- About 90 per cent of those who responded to the event's feedback questionnaire said they found new partners through the Local Food Dating, in other words, a lot of new local business has already been created, continues Jäske.

Responsibility to local business

For K Group, local products are a way of bearing responsibility for business, jobs and culture. For K-food retailers, offering local food is both a way of serving customers and demonstrating corporate responsibility. Increasing the supply of local and Finnish products benefits consumers, local food producers and retailers alike.

- Customers all over Finland want to buy more and more Finnish and locally produced food. This trend also encourages the smaller local food producers that their products will make it onto store shelves, says Jäske.

In the spirit of the Suomi 100 centenary celebrations, the K Group also cooperates with The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK). The K Group is participating in the MTK100 project, the overarching theme of which is 'Common Growth Stories'. During the summer, K Group will publish stories on this theme relating to the success stories of local food producers and K-food stores.

Local Food Dating will be held in six localities this year

This year, Local Food Dating will be held in the following six localities:

9 May, Turku, Forum Marinum, Linnankatu 72, 20100 Turku
23 May, Vaasa, Cumulus Resort Tropiclandia, Lemmenpolku 3, 65170 Vaasa
13 June, Lahti, Lahti Sibeliustalo, Ankkurikatu 7, 15140 Lahti
8 August, Kuopio, Scandic Kuopio, Satamakatu 1, 70100 Kuopio
23 August, Rovaniemi, Cumulus Resort Pohjanhovi, Pohjanpuistikko 2, 96200 Rovaniemi
29 August, Lappeenranta, Scandic Patria, Kauppakatu 21, 53100 Lappeenranta

The events are closed to the public, but media representatives are warmly welcome to interview local food producers, K-food retailers and representatives of the K Group.

For more information about the events, please contact Sustainability Manager Timo Jäske, tel. +358 50 529 2028, timo.jaske@kesko.fi .