TRACE YOUR PRODUCTS

K Group is constantly striving to improve the transparency of its purchasing chains. On this website, our customers can find out more about where the products they purchase from K Group stores come from.

THE PRODUCTS

Where do mywear t-shirts, Pirkka and K-Menu tuna products, Pirkka Fairtrade roses, and PROF Timber sold in our stores come from? We want to increase the transparency of our purchasing chains by providing information on the origin of our products and their journey to our stores. Choose a product to find out more.

BANANA

Bananas are a long-standing favourite among Finns and one of the best-selling fruits in K Group grocery stores. By choosing an organic Pirkka Fairtrade banana, you can make a responsible purchase decision.

Better fashion

The men’s Cole T-shirt made of GOTS certified organic cotton is the most popular product in K-Citymarkets’ own mywear selection.

TRACING TUNA

Tuna is one of the most popular fish species and easy to cook. All our own brand Pirkka and K-Menu tuna has been sustainably caught.

FAIR ROSES

Finland sells the most Fairtrade flowers per capita in the world. Fairtrade premiums have a significant positive local impact on local communities in Africa.

SUSTAINABLE TIMBER

The PEFC label on the timber sold at K-Rauta building and home improvement stores indicates its sustainable origin and shows that the timber comes from certified, sustainably managed forests.

Canned pineapple

Is it ok to add pineapple into a pizza? This question really has divided opinion. Anyhow, canned pineapple is a favourite of the Finns. Take a look at the supply chain of Pirkka and K-Menu canned pineapple in more detail.

WE MONITOR PRODUCT QUALITY

WE MONITOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF PRODUCTION WITH AUDITS

We use third-party amfori BSCI auditing to assure social responsibility in the factories of our tuna suppliers. The amfori BSCI auditing monitors working conditions in factories and farms, including workplace safety, salaries, working hours and compliance with the ban on child and forced labour, among other aspects.

OUR PRODUCTS ARE RESEARCHED AND SAFE

K Group’s Quality and Product Development Unit's laboratory monitors the safety and quality of own brand products and own imports in the grocery trade. We require that all manufacturers have valid GFSI-recognised certifications that assure product safety.

In 2021,

8,393

product samples studied

Of the samples, nearly

5,000

related to our own brand product development

Social responsibility audits

670

in high-risk countries

GFSI

517

product safety audits

Safe preserve cans

We ensure the safety of our own brand food products. Pirkka and K-Menu cans do not contain detrimental elements such as Bisphenol.

We reduce plastic in packaging

In line with our plastics policy, we are reducing the use of plastics and promoting plastics recycling. By the end of 2025, all packaging for our own brand products will be recyclable, reusable or biodegradable.

SKIPJACK TUNA IS A GOOD CHOICE

OUR CANNED TUNA PRODUCTS ARE EITHER SKIPJACK OR YELLOWFIN TUNA

Our Pirkka and K-Menu branded canned tuna products are skipjack tuna. Our Pirkka Parhaat premium range has two canned yellowfin tuna products. All Pirkka and K-Menu tuna has been sustainably fished.

Skipjack tuna
(Katsuwonus pelamis)

Skipjack tuna is a small fish and the most commonly used species for canned tuna. It is related to tuna, but not one of the true tunas, or thunnus. The species lives mainly in tropical areas of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Skipjack tuna stocks are healthy and it is considered a “least concern” species.

Yellow fin tuna
(Thunnus albacares)

Yellowfin tuna can be found in the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. They travel in schools and eat fish, crustaceans, and squid. The biggest fish can weigh up to 200 kilos. Yellowfin tuna is sold both fresh and canned.

WHERE DOES OUR TUNA COME FROM?

All tuna for our canned own brand Pirkka and K-Menu products comes from either Mauritius, Thailand, Spain or Portugal. Our suppliers process the canned tuna in factories in their countries. The tuna cans are driven in a truck to the harbour. They then travel in a container ship to the Netherlands, on a smaller ship to Helsinki in Finland, and finally on a truck to K Group’s central warehouse in Vantaa.

SUSTAINABLE FISHING METHODS

Pirkka and K-Menu canned tuna has been sustainably caught. The sustainability of fishing stocks depends on the fish species, the fishing area, and the method of fishing. K Group complies with the recommendations of WWF’s seafood guide, and we only accept in our selections fish species with fishing methods and fishing areas that do not harm fish stocks. The most sustainable alternatives are selective fishing methods such as handlining, pole fishing, and purse seine fishing of freely swimming tuna. The fishing methods employed for canned Pirkka and K-Menu tuna are pole & line and purse seine.

Purse seine

Purse seine is an efficient method of fishing on open water. It does not damage the seabed and results in low levels of bycatch. The fishers surround a school of fish with a purse seine net, then pull the net together like a bag and bring the fish to the vessel. Fisheries using purse seine must ensure that they leave enough fish in the ocean to reproduce and that they do not threaten the survival of the fish stock.

Pole & line

Pole & line is a fishing method for tuna and other large pelagic species. When a school of fish is located, water is sprayed from the back of the fishing vessel and small bait fish are scattered onto the surface of the water to attract the fish. The fishing takes place at the back of the fishing vessel. The fishermen use a long wooden or fibreglass pole with a hook attached, and flick the fish onto the deck one by one. The method results in low levels of bycatch and does not hurt other sea animals, such as dolphins, shark, sea turtles or birds.

Rules promoting legal fishing

Together with our suppliers, we promote sustainable fishing and preserving ocean ecosystems. Our suppliers have established, reliable partners who catch the tuna.

We comply with the EU rules to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The rules ensure that illegally caught fish is not sold on the European market.

SEA VALUE PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED

Sea Value PCL promotes environmental protection by supporting water resources and ecosystem health. Sea Value PCL also works hard to ensure that the fish they can is free from any illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. Sea Value PCL promotes social responsibility by operating ethically, openly and in line with internationally recognised human rights and practices.

PRINCES LTD.

Princes Ltd. protects ocean life and only works with partners that are committed to sustainable fishing. It does not source tuna from longliner vessels and does not permit transshipment at sea – one of the most effective means of avoiding IUU fishing and associated labour standards issues.

THAI UNION MANUFACTURING CO. LTD

Thai Union has determined that environmental and social responsibility are essential parts of its business. SeaChange® is Thai Union’s global sustainability strategy that covers the whole production chain from protecting the oceans to sustainable procurement of ingredients, appropriate waste management and responsibility for workers. Thai Union is committed to set science-based emission reductions targets. Read more

SIAM INTERNATIONAL FOOD CO LTD.

Siam International Food Co Ltd. is constantly working for environmental and social responsibility. The company has implemented an Environmental Management System since 2012 to comply with ISO 14001. The company’s operating principles acknowledge the rights and working conditions of the workers – especially migrant workers. With ingredients, special attention is paid to traceability and the prevention of IUU fishing and associated labour standards issues.

FRINSA GROUP

Founded in 1961, Frinsa Group is one of the largest European manufacturers of canned tuna and shellfish. Its factories are located in Ribeira, Spain and in Povoa de Varzim, Portugal. Frinsa’s main objective is to produce high-quality canned products that meet customers’ expectations in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Sustaining the marine environment is one of Frinsa’s main pillars.