Sowing seeds of good since 1934
A small flour mill has grown into Finland's largest processor of organic cereals and gluten free oat products. In 2024, the fourth-generation family business, which is also internationally successful, will be flying the flag for responsibility.
Helsinki Mills celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. Since its inception, the family business has been driven by the desire to offer products with outstanding features for both professional and domestic use. Over the years, the small flour mill has grown into an internationally successful, responsible pioneer.
The Finnish family business was born out of courage, a virtue it still lives up to every day. As a result of years of determined work, the company has achieved a prominent position as a domestic operator in the food industry: Helsinki Mills is Finland's largest processor of organic cereals and gluten free oat products. From the very beginning, the company's main objectives have been ensuring the superior quality of its products and gain the trust of its customers.
A COMPANY WITH A FACE
Few companies have such a touching and long history as Helsinki Mills, whose story began in 17th century Estonia. The Puhk family, who founded the company and brought it to Finland, suffered heavy losses during the wars and the Soviet regime, but managed to continue the business despite the difficulties.
Still a family business, the owners are known by name. Now in its fourth generation, the mill is run by CEO Niklas Kumlin. His mother and brother also work for the company. The brothers' great-grandfather Eduard Puhk founded Helsinki Mills in Sörnäinen, near the centre of Helsinki, in 1934. The mill was the first and only large mill in the city, with a daily grinding capacity of tens of thousands of kilos.
- Today, we operate in three locations - Järvenpää, Närpiö and Vaasa - and our capacity has multiplied. Yet we know from where in Finland and whose fields our grain comes from. We also know all the hundreds of pairs of hands through which the products end up on the store shelves and on the tables of Finns," says Niklas Kumlin.
RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTS ARE ALSO ATTRACTING GLOBAL INTEREST
Finnish cereal products, grown responsibly under the midnight sun, are also in demand around the world. Helsinki Mills is a respected exporter of Finnish oat products.
- Already almost a third of our turnover comes from exports, which have become a really important part of our business. Our products are exported to all continents, to more than 40 countries," says Niklas Kumlin.
The company continues to look for growth globally and is patiently carving its way into new consumer markets. Product innovations are also appearing on Finnish tables: last year, Helsinki Mills launched new cooking-grade oat products with a 70% lower carbon footprint than rice.
Responsibility and environmental friendliness are values that are truly visible in everyday life. Helsinki Mills’ cereal products are produced with 100% renewable energy, with respect for nature. Our own farming programme has enabled us to introduce more responsibly produced cereal products to the market.
