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16.01.2026 15:00

Meira Nova is exemplary employer of the year

At the wholesale company, communication between employees and management is smooth. In problematic situations, solutions are sought together.

MeiraNovan henkilöitä ryhmäkuvassa.

Present at the award ceremony were SAK’s regional and organisational specialist Tatu Tuomela (top left), Meira Nova’s logistics director Lauri Ahorinta, CEO Pasi Berggren, chief shop steward Marko Häyhä, Johanna Sparf, team lead at PAM’s Helsinki-Uusimaa regional office, and in the front row, the company’s HR director Sini Tuovinen and occupational safety representative Oona Puranen.

SAK selected Meira Nova as Uusimaa’s exemplary employer of the year. The food wholesale company, part of the S Group, employs 250 people, around 150 of whom work in logistics.

— This is a great recognition for long-term work. Cooperation based on trust is not only a good way of working, but also a sustainable way to lead. This award belongs to the entire staff – especially those who are committed to open dialogue and joint development, says Meira Nova’s CEO Pasi Berggren.

According to him, the recognition did not come as a complete surprise. The company’s results in well-being at work and customer surveys have been very positive.

The initiative for the recognition came from Service Union United PAM.

— PAM contacted us after I had often praised how well things work here in their events. Then we prepared a proposal together for SAK – and it was approved, says Meira Nova’s chief shop steward and warehouse coordinator Marko Häyhä.

Häyhä praises the cooperation with management as excellent. He sits as employee representative in the company’s operational management group. The CEO always responds quickly, and problems are genuinely solved together.

The employer and staff are not opponents. When the ground rules are clear and there is trust, even difficult issues can be resolved constructively.

— The employer and staff are not opponents. When the ground rules are clear and there is trust, even difficult issues can be resolved constructively, confirms Berggren.

Even during strikes, cooperation has worked well.

— In early 2025, during collective agreement negotiations, we agreed that a group of workers would continue in three shifts at the warehouse. Our company is part of Finland’s emergency supply operations. The employer did not try to hire more workers than what had been jointly agreed, Häyhä explains.

This good cooperation is also visible in the daily work of employees.

At Meira Nova, a local agreement is in place for a performance-based bonus for efficient order pickers. On top of the hourly wage, this adds a meaningful amount to earnings.

The company also receives praise for organising training together with the vocational school Keuda. In 2024–2025, a large group of employees completed either a vocational or specialist qualification in service logistics.

Häyhä is also satisfied that the company regularly hires temporary workers to permanent positions – at least a couple of times per year. About one third of the 150 logistics employees are agency workers.

The chief shop steward believes that the employer of the year recognition is also important for the staff. Many have worked for the company a long time.

— One colleague has been here for 40 years, Häyhä says.

SAK wants to highlight positive examples with the employer of the year award.

— Trade unions often talk about problems, but there are many workplaces where things are handled really well. Usually, companies that invest in employee well-being also succeed in business, says regional and organisational specialist Tatu Tuomela from SAK’s Helsinki office.

Text and photos: Anu Vallinkoski

Keywords:

commerce sector

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