Food and drink companies are increasingly interested in Helsinki. In particular, the globally growing popularity of microbreweries and distilleries is reflected in the demand for premises in Helsinki. The companies want to be located where their consumer customers are and where transport distances to business customers are short. At the same time, it is natural for breweries and distilleries to set up their own shop, taproom or restaurant in connection with the production facility, allowing customers to taste the products as fresh as they come.
Alcohol legislation also has an impact on the willingness of companies to be located in Helsinki. According to the Alcohol Act, fermented alcoholic beverages with a maximum of 12% alcohol by volume may be sold directly to consumers only if they have been produced in the immediate vicinity of the sales premises and the annual production does not exceed half a million litres. More and more breweries want to make products with a higher alcohol percentage than that of products sold in shops, which contain a maximum of 5.5% alcohol by volume.
Many new microbreweries established in Helsinki
In recent years, numerous microbreweries have been established in Helsinki, such as Vallilan Panimo, Etko Brewing and CoolHead Brew, which moved from Tuusula to Helsinki. In connection with their production facilities, they can sell stronger beers directly to consumers without having to fight for shelf space in retail shops and Alko outlets with other companies in the same sector.
“We wanted to move to Helsinki to get closer to our customers. When we found a unique space right next to the geographical centre point of Helsinki, we knew that we could bring it back to life. Now our customers have the opportunity to watch the production of beer through huge windows and participate in brewery tours and tastings. Some of the beer we produce is sold on the spot, while the rest goes to shops and restaurants all over Europe,” says Cleber Goncalves, the founder of CoolHead Brew.
CoolHead’s move to Helsinki is an example of how changing the use of old buildings can bring new life to the city and invigorate areas not previously frequented by consumers. CoolHead moved to Helsinki’s old tropical indoor garden, Gardenia, which had been left empty and was challenging to find a new use for. The peculiar appearance of the old tropical indoor garden works well for the brewing company: the impressive building attracts customers and the room height is also sufficient for the needs of the brewing industry. CoolHead is bringing new life not just to the building but also to the whole Viikki area. It serves as a hub for public transport as well as nature lovers and cyclists. Suitable for organising summer events, the entire building is surrounded by a summer terrace.
“The establishment of food and drink production in Helsinki supports and develops the local ecosystem of the whole sector. Helsinki wants to support companies, and good experiences of this have also been gained from the cooperation with CoolHead,” says Jukka-Pekka Tolvanen, the City of Helsinki’s business liaison responsible for developing cooperation in the restaurant sector.
Other new brewing companies, such as Vallilan Panimo and Etko Brewing, have established their breweries in the old small-scale industrial areas of Vallila and Roihupelto. Such areas are good environments for companies in the sector, since they have lower rent levels than the city centre and the facilities are suitable for the activities. The customers of both companies have also contributed to the development of the regions’ vitality. For example, Vallilan Panimo is invigorating the area together with other local restaurant companies, such as Bites Burgers and Ääniwalli.
Food tourists looking for unique destinations
For Helsinki, food and drink companies are an attraction factor that emphasises the uniqueness of the city and provides an interesting addition to food tourism in the city. Food tourists look for unique and exotic experiences that cannot be found elsewhere. For example, the brewery in the old tropical indoor garden, together with its taproom and Story Restaurants kitchen, is definitely one.
Other companies in the sector are also fiercely looking for suitable business premises close to customers, and the city has the opportunity to respond to the need by changing the uses of old buildings, making use of creativity and the ideas of companies. By responding to the demand, Helsinki can develop its image as a desirable location for companies, since successful businesses are happy to recommend the city to other companies in the same sector. And when companies and tourists get interested in Helsinki, skilled employees will follow.
News photo:
Cleber Goncalves, the founder of CoolHead Brew, thinks Helsinki is an excellent
place for a brewery business. The old building in Viikki has undergone a change
of use and major renovation to accommodate the new activities. (Oskari
Sarkima)