Automation and intralogistics crucial to hitting Finland's €5bn food export target

Speakers at the Food Industry and Logistics Fairs in Tampere on 9 to 10 September 2026 warned that Finland's government goal to double food export value by 2031 will require much stronger logistics capacity and wider adoption of automation, organisers Tampereen Messut said.

The fairs, which followed a recent preview of the Tampere Fairs that highlighted food exports and logistics technology, brought together industry organisations, researchers and firms to discuss concrete targets and timelines.

Jarmo Talasrinne, executive director of Suomen elintarikevienti ry (SUVI), said the aim is to raise export value from about €2.4–2.5 billion today to €5 billion by 2031. He pointed to the national Food Strategy 2040, which envisages an even larger increase over the longer term.

Csaba Jansik, senior researcher at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), noted roughly 60 percent of current Finnish food exports go to the Baltic Sea region, while Finland's share of that market is only about 0.3 percent. That, he said, leaves considerable room for growth, but opening new markets must go hand in hand with the ability to produce, store and transport far larger volumes reliably.

Companies at the fairs illustrated how automation and modern intralogistics can scale operations. Fresh Servant Oy, based in Pedersöre, produces more than 100,000 salad boxes a day. It adds new products to its lines as often as every three days.

Lauri Impiö of systems provider SSI Schäfer described how advanced warehouse robotics move fast-selling items from production to storage, freeing staff to concentrate on order picking and quality control.

Fresh Servant's logistics manager Juha Tiitto said the company is investing to potentially double factory throughput before year-end. Technology firms were recognised as well, with Consafe Logistics receiving the Internal Logistics Innovation award from the Finnish Purchasing and Logistics Association LOGY.

Marjukka Mattio of Ruokatieto Yhdistys ry said permanent export structures and wider participation by SMEs are essential to convert potential into sustained export growth. Organisers expect more than 11,000 visitors to the Tampere event.