Finnish Championships of Artisan Food
The Finnish Championships of Artisan Food is open to producers and companies operating in Finland and the other Nordic countries that process food products by hand (a business ID is required).
The competition serves as a tool for product and business development, as well as a source of peer support. It increases the visibility of artisan food products and boosts their marketing and sales.
What is it about?
The purpose of the national artisan food competitions is to preserve and develop local food traditions, promote artisan food, and support its advancement. The competition safeguards the concept of artisan food and strengthens its value.
The Finnish Championships of Artisan Food highlights and reinforces the role of craftsmanship in food entrepreneurship at both local and national levels. Unlike industrial production, where machines control the process, artisan food producers work according to the nature of the raw materials. They know their ingredients and traditional methods inside out, and it is this expertise that makes the products unique. Machines may be used to ease physical workload, but the core of production lies in craftsmanship and the maker’s skill.
The rules of the Finnish Championships of Artisan Food are owned by the Finnish Artisan Food Association (Suomen Artesaaniruoka ry). The association is responsible for maintaining the rules in Finland and for organizing the competition. It also participates in developing the rules and annually seeks a host for the event.
Who can participate in the Finnish Championships of Artisan Food?
The target group includes entrepreneurs who handcraft and process their products within one of the competition categories. Participants compete with their artisan food products and receive constructive evaluations from a jury of experts specializing in the respective product category. The feedback provided by the jury motivates participants and supports both product development and the overall growth of the business.
To participate, one must be a registered entrepreneur who processes their product in accordance with the definition of artisan food. The product must be commercially available and produced in an approved food processing facility.
Previous hosts of the Finnish Championships of Artisan Food:
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The first artisan food competition was held in Raasepori in 2016. The competition was open to Finnish companies as well as operators from the Nordic and Baltic countries. Sixty companies participated in the competition with 173 products. Most of the companies were from Finland, but two Swedish companies also took part. There were nine product categories in the competition in Raasepori.
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In 2017, the competition was held in Raasepori. Once again, the competition was open to Finnish companies as well as operators from the Nordic and Baltic countries. Fifty companies participated in the competition with 120 products, and there were ten competition categories. Most of the companies were from Finland, but there were also a few companies from Estonia and Sweden.
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In 2018, the competition was held again in Raasepori. Fifty-four companies participated in the competition with 108 products, and there were eleven competition categories. Companies from Finland, Sweden, and Estonia took part in the competition.
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More than 60 companies participated in the competition with over 120 products. Most of the companies were Finnish, but there were also a few companies from Estonia and Latvia. A total of 11 product categories were competed in Jyväskylä.
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Artesaaniruoka SM 2020 was held in Raisio on October 14–16. The product competition was aimed at domestic companies, but also at companies manufacturing food products in other Nordic and Baltic countries. A total of 66 companies participated in the competition with a total of 130 products. There were 11 competition categories in 2020.
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The Finnish Artisan Food Championships were held on October 7–9, 2021, in Mariehamn, Åland. Despite the ongoing pandemic, 42 companies participated in the competition. A total of eight product categories were contested in Åland.
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The 2022 Artisan Food Championships were held in Lappeenranta on September 21–23, 2022. Five judging panels evaluated 110 products from 58 companies.
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The Finnish Artisan Food Championships were held in Rovaniemi on October 17–19, 2023. The competition was open to entrepreneurs from Finland, Sweden, and Norway, and the special theme for the year was Arctic artisan food. Ten judging panels evaluated 100 products from 45 companies.
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The Artisan Food Championships were held in Kemiönsaari on October 9–11, 2025. The competition was open to entrepreneurs from Finland, Sweden, and Norway.
The results of the 2025 Artisan Food Championships were announced at an awards ceremony at Restaurant Amos Krog in Söderlångvik on October 11, 2025. Seven groups of judges evaluated more than 70 products.
Artisan Food Community Meetup
The Industry Meet-Up is an event organized periodically by the association, most often in connection with the Finnish Championships of Artisan Food. The meet-up encourages participants to network: to meet people, get to know one another, exchange experiences and knowledge, and share business cards or samples related to their areas of interest.
Would you like to participate in meetings? Become a member and join a community that is advancing the field.
Contact
Would you like to know more about the Artisan Food Championships? Do you have any ideas for collaboration?
Feel free to contact us!
Executive Director
Mirka Olin
+358 40 568 6283
mirka@artesaaniruoka.fi
Oulu 2026
Products, product categories, competition rules and registration
Food and nutrition expert
MKN Pohjois-Suomi
riikka.meskanen@mkn.fi
+358 50 466 6043
