“The aim is to ensure consistent quality and reliability for the food services of Helsinki and maintain the ability to provide food services even in the coming decades, with the growing population of the city in mind. The new central kitchen will respond to this challenge,” stressed CEO of Palvelukeskus Helsinki Minna Hoffström.
A time capsule was embedded into the foundation, containing the charter and blueprint, as well as materials such as the day’s issue of Helsingin Sanomat, the current menus of the City’s schools and daycare centres and currently used coins.
In his celebratory speech at the foundation stone ceremony, Mayor of Helsinki Daniel Sazonov said that the investment in the new central kitchen is significant to the City in terms of not only its size, but its content in particular. The new central kitchen is intended to serve Helsinki and its residents far into the future. The Mayor also said that food services play a special role in the wellbeing of children and the elderly, as nutritious food builds a strong foundation for aspects such as learning and wellbeing.
The new central kitchen will prepare 60,000 meals on weekdays, serving close to 400 locations across Helsinki, such as schools, daycare centres and educational institutions.
In his speech, City Manager of Helsinki Jukka-Pekka Ujula thanked every party that has been involved in facilitating the important project that has been years in the making, and particularly the professional staff and management of the central kitchen, whose contributions will continue to be of the utmost importance within the new walls over the coming decades.
The new central kitchen will be located next to the existing central kitchen, which will make the transfer of food production to the new facilities in 2027 smoother, facilitating an uninterrupted food service. The new building will be about 20% smaller than the existing central kitchen, but its capacity will be more efficient thanks to modern and optimised processes. It will also be energy-efficient. The plot and the building of the new central kitchen are owned by the City of Helsinki, and their user will be the Palvelukeskus Helsinki enterprise. The main contractor is Peab Oy.
