Commerce & Services Finland

Main supermarket and hypermarket chains

 

 

 

Prisma: A hypermarket chain with 74 stores in 51 cities in Finland; the range includes groceries, clothing, household appliances, home goods, and much more; stores are usually located on the outskirts of cities with convenient parking.

 

 

 

K-Citymarket: A hypermarket chain with over 60 stores in 39 cities in Finland; the range includes groceries, clothing, electronics, home goods; stores are often located in shopping centers.

 

 

 

S-Market: A supermarket chain with about 400 stores throughout Finland; the range includes basic groceries and daily necessities.

 

 

Lidl: The chain has over 200 stores across the country; the range includes groceries, household goods, affordable clothing.

 

 

Sale and Alepa: Small supermarkets; Sale has about 240 stores, primarily in rural areas, while Alepa has about 110 stores in the Greater Helsinki region; the range includes basic groceries and essentials.

 

 

 

K-Market and K-Supermarket: K-Market has about 736 stores, and K-Supermarket has about 251 stores throughout Finland; the range includes groceries and daily necessities.

 

 

 

Tokmanni: The largest discount chain in Finland, with about 201 stores; the range includes a wide selection of goods: from groceries to clothing and home goods.

Below are the largest online stores popular among the country's residents:

 

Verkkokauppa.com: The largest Finnish online retailer, offering over 70,000 product items from more than 1,000 manufacturers; range: electronics, household appliances, computers, mobile phones, toys, home goods, and much more.

 

Gigantti: The Finnish division of the Scandinavian electronics chain; range: household appliances, electronics, computers, mobile devices, home goods.

 

Power: Range: Electronics, household appliances, computers, mobile devices.

 

Multitronic: A specialized store of computer electronics (computers, components, peripherals, mobile devices, accessories).

 

Suomikauppa.fi: Online store specializing in selling Finnish products worldwide (groceries, design products, souvenirs, home goods).

 

BabyBoom.fi: Online store for children's clothing and toys from Finland at manufacturer prices.

Postal services in Finland are provided by Posti Group, which is the national postal operator.

 

Main services of Posti: Sending letters and parcels within the country and abroad.

 

Post boxes and branches: Posti has a wide network of post boxes and branches throughout the country, ensuring convenient access to postal services.

 

Several international and local courier companies also operate in Finland.

 

International courier services

 

DHL Express: An international company offering express delivery of documents and goods worldwide.

 

UPS: International and domestic delivery, express delivery, logistic solutions.

 

FedEx: International delivery, express delivery, shipment tracking.

 

TNT: Express delivery of documents and goods, logistic solutions.

 

Local courier services

 

Matkahuolto: Parcel and cargo delivery throughout Finland, pickup points at bus stations.

 

DB Schenker: Freight transportation, warehousing services, logistic solutions.

 

Kaukokiito: Freight delivery across Finland, logistic services.

Main telecommunications companies

 

Elisa: The largest telecom operator in Finland, offering mobile and fixed communications, internet services, and television.

 

Telia Finland: The second largest operator, offering comprehensive telecommunications services.

 

DNA: The third largest operator, providing mobile communications, internet, and television.

 

Service features

 

High-speed internet: Finland is known for having one of the highest levels of broadband internet penetration in the world, ensuring stable and fast connection.

 

Package Offers: Operators often offer bundled packages that include mobile services, internet, and television, allowing for cost savings.

 

Digital Services: Streaming platforms and online services offering access to a wide range of content have become widespread.

 

Mobile Communication: 4G and 5G networks provide high-speed data transmission and extensive coverage across the country.

 

Customer Orientation: Companies offer flexible tariff plans and quality customer support, taking into account individual needs.

Food Delivery

 

Wolt: A Finnish company specializing in delivering food from restaurants and stores; operates in major cities in Finland, including Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, and Turku.

 

Foodora: An international food delivery service from various restaurants; delivers in Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, and Turku.

 

Oda: A Norwegian company specializing in grocery delivery; operates in the Helsinki region and its surroundings.

 

Goods Delivery

 

Posti: The national postal service of Finland, providing parcel and mail delivery services.

 

Matkahuolto: A transportation company offering parcel and cargo delivery services.

 

DB Schenker: An international logistics company with representation in Finland.

In Finland, the operating hours of stores and services can vary depending on their type, location, and season. However, there are general trends to help navigate the schedule of various establishments.

 

Stores

 

Large supermarkets and hypermarkets: Usually operate from Monday to Friday from 7:00 or 8:00 to 21:00 or 22:00. On Saturday, they are open from 7:00 or 8:00 to 18:00 or 21:00, and on Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00 or 21:00.

 

Small stores: Often open at 9:00 and close at 17:00 or 18:00 on weekdays. On Saturday, they may operate until 16:00, and on Sunday, many are closed.

 

Shopping centers: Usually operate from 9:00 to 21:00 on weekdays, from 9:00 to 18:00 on Saturday, and from 12:00 to 18:00 on Sunday.

 

Alko stores (alcoholic beverages): Operate from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 21:00, on Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00. Alko stores are closed on Sundays and public holidays.

 

Services

 

Banks: Usually open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:30. Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

Post offices (Posti): Hours may vary, but most are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00. Some branches also operate on Saturday with shortened hours.

 

Pharmacies: Most pharmacies work from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00, on Saturday from 9:00 to 15:00. In large cities, there are on-duty pharmacies open in the evening and on weekends.

 

Restaurants and cafes: Hours vary, but they usually open from 10:00 or 11:00 to 22:00 or later, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.

 

Note that on public holidays, many stores and services may operate on a reduced schedule or be closed. It is recommended to check the hours of specific establishments in advance, especially during holiday periods.

Local Finnish Brands

 

Marimekko: Established in 1951, Marimekko is known for its bright and bold prints in clothing, accessories, and homeware. Range: clothing, bags, home textiles, tableware.

 

Fazer: Founded in 1891, the company specializes in confectionery and food production. Range: chocolate, candies, baked goods, dairy products.

 

Nokia: Established in 1865, the company is known for its innovations in telecommunications and mobile technology. Range: network equipment, software, communication services.

 

Iittala: Founded in 1881, the company specializes in producing glass and ceramic tableware. Range: glassware, ceramics, home accessories.

 

Rovio Entertainment: Founded in 2003, the company became famous for the game Angry Birds. Range: mobile games, animated films, merchandising.

 

 

International Brands in Finland

 

Finland is widely represented by international brands offering a variety of goods and services.

 

Retail: H&M, Zara, IKEA, Mango, Nike, Adidas.

 

Electronics: Apple, Samsung, Sony, Microsoft.

 

Cars: Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz.

 

Food products: McDonald’s, Starbucks, KFC, Subway.

 

These brands are available in major cities and shopping centers, providing consumers with a wide range of products.

Finland is known for its high standard of living, respect for nature, and a calm pace of life. Understanding local etiquette and shopping culture will help immigrants quickly adapt and feel comfortable in a new environment.

 

Politeness and respect

 

Finns value politeness and respectful attitudes. When interacting with sellers and other customers, it is customary to be calm and reserved. Loud conversations and emotional expressions are not encouraged.

 

Queues and personal space

 

Respect for personal space is an important part of Finnish culture. When standing in line, you should maintain a distance between yourself and another person. Cutting in line or standing too close is not accepted.

 

Payment methods

 

Cashless payments are very common. Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops and cafes. Mobile payments via apps like MobilePay and Apple Pay are also popular. Cash is used less frequently but is still accepted.

 

Returns and exchanges

 

Finnish stores usually have a clear return and exchange policy. Receipts and packaging must be kept. Return periods can vary but typically range from 14 to 30 days. Refunds are usually returned to the card.

 

Customer service

 

Store employees are ready to help but may not approach first. If you need help, approach an employee yourself. Addressing by name is not common; a polite greeting in Finnish (“Hei”) or English (“Hello”) is enough.

 

Environmental practices

 

Finns take ecology seriously. The use of reusable bags is encouraged in supermarkets; plastic bags are usually charged. Waste sorting and separate garbage collection is a widespread practice.

 

Tipping

 

The tradition of tipping is not common. All necessary fees and taxes are already included in the bill. However, if the service was especially good, you can leave a small amount or round up the bill.

 

Language aspect

 

Most Finns speak English, especially in major cities. However, knowing basic phrases in Finnish or Swedish (the second official language) will be appreciated and can simplify communication.

 

Understanding and respecting local etiquette and shopping culture will not only ease the adaptation process but also help establish good relations with the local community. Finland is a country with friendly and respectful people, and following these simple rules will make your stay here more comfortable.

Summer sales

 

Start: Immediately after the Midsummer celebration (Juhannus), which is celebrated on a Saturday between 20 and 26 June. Thus, the summer sales usually start at the end of June.

 

Winter sales

 

Start: Immediately after Christmas, starting from December 27.

 

Additional discount periods

 

"Black Friday": This tradition came from the USA and has become popular in Finland, offering significant one-day discounts in stores and online.

 

When: The last Friday of November.

 

 

 

Autumn promotions

 

When: Throughout autumn, especially in November.

 

Many stores run promotions and offer discounts to stimulate sales before the winter season.

 

Useful tips

 

Loyalty programs: Registering in store loyalty programs may provide additional discounts and privileges.

 

Tax Free: Shoppers residing outside the European Union can take advantage of VAT refunds on purchases over 40 euros.

Main principles of the system

 

Waste management hierarchy: Finland adheres to a priority sequence in waste management:

 

- Waste prevention: Encouraging the reduction of waste production.

 

- Reuse: Using products again whenever possible.

 

- Recycling: Processing materials to create new products.

 

- Energy recovery: Using waste to produce energy.

 

- Burial: Only if the previous methods are impossible or impractical.

 

Separate waste collection: Citizens are required to sort waste by categories:

 

- Paper and cardboard

 

- Glass

 

- Metals

 

- Plastic

 

- Biological waste

 

Producer responsibility: Companies are responsible for collecting and recycling certain types of waste, such as packaging, electronics, and batteries.

 

Practical organization

 

Containers for separate collection: In residential courtyards and public areas, containers are installed for different types of waste.

 

Collection points: There are special collection points for bulky or hazardous waste, where such materials can be disposed of free of charge or for a small fee.

 

Information resources: Municipalities provide detailed instructions on sorting and waste disposal, often in multiple languages, to facilitate the process for immigrants.