’The Finnish Star Product of the Year’ honorary mention to Pirkka Karelian pasties manufactured by Pielispakari Oy
According to the jury of the Finnish Star Product of the Year contest arranged at the Finnish Food Product of the Year event arranged on 3 May 2007, the quality of the grain products series was very high with all products nearly equally good candidates for the winner title. The honorary mention given to Pirkka Karelian pasties was based on innovation, good marketing opportunities, and a new way of introducing good Karelian pasties to homes.
"The Finnish Star Product of the Year honorary mention is a very important recognition to the Pirkka product range and Kesko Food. We want to offer our customers the best food solutions at low prices throughout Finland. Therefore it is natural that Kesko Food develops the Pirkka product range and increases its diversity to better meet our customers’ various needs," says Terho Kalliokoski, President of Kesko Food Ltd.
New Pirkka Karelian pasties combine tradition and innovation
The Pirkka Karelian pasties that received the honorary mention are manufactured by the traditional hand-crimping method by Pielispakari Oy, a bakery located in Nurmes, North Karelia. At the final stage of manufacture, prebaked Karelian pasties are frozen and packaged in paper bags, which preserve the original aroma of the pasties. A closed bag is put in a microwave oven for three minutes, after which pasties are crisp and ready to be eaten. No other product uses a corresponding bag.
A local delicacy to all Finnish homes
In autumn 2006, Pirkka Karelian pasties were chosen the product for celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Pirkka range. They serve as an excellent example of what selecting a product for nationwide distribution means to a small supplier and end customers. A small entrepreneur is able to increase his production and employment in the area, and benefits from better opportunities of marketing and distributing his products throughout Finland. For customers, the inclusion of a local delicacy in the Pirkka range gives are chance to enjoy them all over the country.
Further information:
Product Group Kaija Grommi, Kesko Food Ltd, tel. +358 1053 22260
Managing Director Erkki Timonen, Pielispakari Oy, tel. +358 400-548 166
Press service: www.vision.fi/ruokakesko
Pirkka is K-food stores’ private label range, which consists of over 1,600 products. In recent years, the Pirkka range has received several valued awards. Pirkka snack carrots were selected the Star Product of the Year and the Finnish Food Product of the Year in 2005. The same year, Pirkka became the only private label to the selected as one of the best-known and most valuable Finnish superbrands. This year Pirkka organic carrot puree was named the Finnish Organic Product of the Year 2007.
Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is a retail specialist whose stores raise the quality of consumers’ everyday lives by offering highly-appreciated products and services at competitive prices. Kesko operates in the Nordic and Baltic countries and Russia.
