Food & Drink Awards 2023 | 47 Kouvolan Lakritsi Oy is a traditional liquorice maker located in the Finnish city of Kouvola, located approximately 150km from Helsinki, that has been successfully operating since way back in 1906. Determined to remain at the forefront of innovation, the company has launched a new website and a fantastic line of luxurious black liquorice products which are available across international markets, with an overarching goal of making them available in the world’s best shops. We speak with Timo Nisula, whose family enterprise was so impressed by the company, that it decided to take it under its wing, responsibly shaping the company’s future. Luxury Liquorice Manufacturer of the Year 2023 Despite its famous reputation as a product that people either love or hate, Timo is confident that the usual 50/50 spilt is closer to 99/1 with the really good taste that Kouvolan Liquorice provides. All of the necessary skills to make the world’s best liquorice are passed down through the generations, and this same method is applied with leadership of the factory. Employees of the company are incredibly loyal, with many having worked for the firm for more than 25 years. In return for their loyalty, staff are always taken care of, being afforded good healthcare, free electric bikes, and great flexibility with holidays and time-off. When Kouvolan Liquorice made the decision to build an entirely new, state-of-the-art factory, more than 70 cities expressed keen interest in playing host to the facility, highlighting the nationwide appeal of the business. Continuing the tradition of its namesake, the city of Kouvolan was chosen to remain the site of the factory, chosen for its picturesque settings located in the midst of a natural, untouched splendour, complete with pristine, crystal-clear bodies of water. From here, the team have continued to refine and innovate, improving on a long line of tradition and heritage. Determined to get as much exposure as possible, the team recently attended Paris Fashion Week, presenting their product as a part of Ivana Helsinki’s live show, complete with dresses created by designer Paola Suhonen. Priort to this, the company had a strong presence at the Super Yacht Foodie Fair in Antibes, promoting its offerings to yacht owners and fair attendees. Looking ahead to the future, the company is soon planning to unveil new products in Japan, with other news on the horizon that promises to be “exotic” With a wealth of expertise at the helm, Kouvolan Liquorice offers luxury liquorice that is some of the best in the world, and with an impressive, unparalleled heritage and a method that is successfully being adapted for the 21st century, the company is more than deserving of this award. Contact Details Contact: Timo Nisula Company: Kouvolan Lakritsi Oy Web Address: bestlicoriceoftheworld.com ouvolan Lakritsi Oy (Kouvolan Liquorice) traces its origins back to the Russian Empire, and the city of Vyborg, to a time before liquorice had even made an appearance in the country. It was 1906, and as the Empire flourished, Vyborg was preparing for a flavour revolution, offering up luxury commodities such as lemonades and mineral waters, which were created for the grand festivities undertaken by the local bourgeoisie. The decades would roll on, and just after the end of the Second World War, over Christmas 1945, a miracle happened. A small batch of liquorice root powder found its way to the factory as if by magic, and a new mouthwatering delicacy was forged that quickly swept the town. However, the workers at the liquorice factory were striving for a product that was even better than this, and through the recruiting of English liquorice connoisseur H. Knoch, the recipe was fine-tuned, and the black treat was transformed into something heavenly. Today, some of the world’s finest liquorice flavours are crafted at the hands of the company’s celebrated liquorice masters, with every single bite lovingly handcrafted from start to finish. The company makes its liquorice the same way that it has done for decades, but its offerings are different from that of its competitors; fresh, smooth, and handmade, until a fan tastes Kouvolan’s produce, they have not tasted truly great liquorice. Much like the liquorice market more broadly, Kouvolan Liquorice is just starting out its journey, already boasting the claim of being one of the fastest growing product lines in the sweets and candy sector. As Timo describes, “From a small country like Finland, one can only go global with an exceptional product – which is exactly what our liquorice is.” With its proud, handmade status, and being comprised of the finest ingredients, the company’s commodity is truly one-of-a-kind. K
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTY1MjM3