Arho Foods – Our story
FOOD EXPERIENCES FOR OVER 70 YEARS
Finnish family-owned company
We are a Finnish family business whose cornerstones are high-quality food and bold renewal. Our roots can be found in the Helsinki Market Square, where we started trading vegetables and berries in the 1990s. Over time, our operations expanded to grocery brands, after acquiring several traditional Finnish brands. We also act as a food importer and distributor in Finland for many well-known brands.
For decades, we have been actively developing our range – both through acquisitions and new product representations. In 2015, we sold our business, but over the years started to miss our high-quality products and valued brands.
In 2021, the circle closed, and we bought Green Taste Ltd back and changed the company name to Arho Foods Ltd. Even the time goes on, our mission remains the same:
We want to offer our customers excellent food experiences.
1940s: Old Mr. Surojegin starts manufacturing traditional salted cucumbers by fermenting in Helsinki
1980s: The Myrttinen brothers acquire Surojegin’s business – the production and the sales expand nationwide
1980s: Memmas Knossos brand is created – importing extra virgin olive oil from Crete begins
1987: Signore Gallo – an Italian gentleman – starts making Pappagallo ice cream and sorbet in his café in Finland, respecting the Italian ice cream tradition
1990s: Finns become acquainted with the Italian Sicilia lemon juices – the juice is warmly welcomed among the home cooks
1990s: Arho Companies’ business starts by wholesaling fresh produce
2000s: The product range expands from fresh produce to groceries
2009: The business of Myrttinens’ cucumbers is acquired
2011: Memmas Knossos olive oil brand is acquired – collaboration with the Cretan producer evolves and extends to new products
2011: Pappagallo ice cream brand is acquired
2012: Green Taste Ltd is acquired – the product range extends to nuts and snack products
2013: Representing Sicilia brand in Finland begins – lemon and lime juices complement our cooking category
2014: EVI International Ltd is acquired – Mehuiza juices and smoothies expand our product range to drinks
2020: Representing Molinera in Finland begins
2021: Representing Sammontana in Finland begins – our ice cream category is replenished with a genuine gelato
2022: Hango Sinappi – a popular Finnish
mustard brand – is acquired
2022: Raikastamo’s business is acquired – organic juices
and sodas complement our range of drinks
2022: Päivänsäde olives’ business is acquired
2022: Representing Jolca olives in Finland begins
FIRM POSITION IN THE FINNISH KITCHENS
Arho Companies – today
Today, we are a strong and growing business operating in the Finnish retail and HoReCa-sector.
Our brands are well-known in the Finnish home kitchens and the restaurants, and we are constantly developing our product range. In addition to our own brands, we are actively searching for interesting new brands to represent in Finland.
We want to surprise, enlighten, and respond to high expectations. With years of experience – looking into the future.
OUR PRINCIPLES
Responsibility –
our way of working
We value responsibility and want to operate sustainably. We are continuously following the ecological trends on the food sector and exploring ways to grow recycling of product packages.
