Finland as a food nation at Intergastra – export companies and University of Helsinki target the German market

The preparation team of the University of Helsinki’s Master’s Programme in Food Export and Gastronomy will head to Intergastra in Stuttgart, Germany, from 7th to 11th February 2026. Finland will participate in the fair for the first time, alongside 16 food companies and the University of Helsinki.

The Finnish companies attending aim to access the professional kitchen and restaurant markets in Germany. Intergastra is regarded as the leading trade fair for the hotel, restaurant, and café sectors in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In 2024, the fair attracted a total of 89,497 visitors from over 30,000 companies and 70 countries.

At Intergastra, Finland will be presented as a food nation, familiarising Central Europeans with Finnish food culture and offerings. Decision-makers, buyers, influencers, and media representatives from the food service sector in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland will be invited to the fair events.

Kai Sauer, the Finnish Ambassador to Germany, will open Finland’s Days at Intergastra on Monday, 9th February 2026. He will discuss Finland's unique school meal programme, which is included in the curriculum and has garnered interest worldwide.

– The aim for Finland is to gain market insights and new contacts, test products, and open up the food service market in Germany and German-speaking Europe, says Johanna Pfeiffer, project manager of the fair from FinDe Business Consulting Oy.

The following companies from Finland will be attending Intergastra 2026: atSauce, Apetit Ruoka Oy, KIKO King Konjac, Pohjolan Peruna, Jepuan Peruna, Atria Finland, Ravintoraisio Oy, Lagerblad Foods, Hätälä, Ice Age Water Oy/Vellamo, Maustaja, Moilas, Hoviruoka, Fredman Group, Veljekset Rönkä, and JK Tuoretalo.

– Due to the current geopolitical situation, Central Europe’s attention is increasingly directed towards the Nordic countries, especially Finland. This is why industry media and buyers are keen to explore our food culture, companies, and people, explains Pfeiffer.
Exploring the international gastronomic market

The team from the University of Helsinki will showcase the developing international Master’s Programme in Food Export and Gastronomy at Intergastra, network, and observe trends in the food sector.

But what does gastronomy mean in this context? Sulo Roukka, the cooperation and partnership coordinator responsible for designing the Master’s Programme, provides an answer.

– In our planned educational programme, gastronomy specifically refers to processed, high-value-added products and services, as well as the markets surrounding them.

According to Roukka, gastronomy is related not only to the food service business but also to a comprehensive understanding of food cultures, the experience economy, and the sustainability of food systems. The new dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Mari Sandell, continues:

– Graduates from our Master’s Programme should recognise the potential of the international gastronomic market and be able to leverage the experience economy and storytelling as value creators in international business. This is why we are excited to be involved in Intergastra even at this stage of programme planning."

The implementation of Finland’s participation in Intergastra is managed by FinDe Business Consulting Oy in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Business Finland.
More information
  • Sulo Roukka, Cooperation and Partnership Coordinator, University of Helsinki, +358 50 576 8916,
  • Johanna Pfeiffer, FinDe Business Consulting Oy, +358 44 236 97 65,