Local food and municipal food services: case Kiuruvesi, Finland

In Finland, the Kiuruvesi municipality is the pioneer in use of local and organic food (LOF) in the statutory municipal catering services. The LOF strategy is based on territorial approach, and it was adopted as one means of enhancing the attractiveness of the remotely located municipality with unfavorable population development. The local policymakers have been fully committed to the strategy, and this has enabled the consistent development during nearly two decades. The Kiuruvesi case demonstrates the gradual shift of focus in the competitive bidding process from price-based tendering towards anticipatory dialogue and interaction between the suppliers and catering personnel. Over the years the LOF concept has brought about various kinds of food entrepreneurship to the region. The case serves, therefore, also as an example of the institutional customers’ significance for the SME:s in the competitive food market.