The Nurmes, North Karelia-based Pielisen Kalajaloste Oy will soon be producing up to 30,000 cans of fish per day. The operation is driven by a love of a clean environment and fishing.<\/p>\n
Pielisen Kalajaloste Oy is a family-owned business established in 1994, still operating out of their birthplace in Pitk\u00e4koski, Nurmes. Markus and Raakel Tolvanen and their children run the production amidst the scenic, hilly North Karelian landscape.<\/p>\n
Markus Tolvanen discovered his passion for fishing at an early age in those same surroundings. As a little boy, he would have trouble sleeping if he had not caught any fish during the day. At that point, he\u2019d sometimes sneak out of his bedroom window and head to the shore to prepare for the next day\u2019s fishing trip. His love of nature eventually led Tolvanen to become a logger in the familiar woods.<\/p>\n
Pielisen Kalajaloste was first conceived when Tolvanen decided to swap his logging machine to a fish cleaning machine and buy his first boat. At first, he fished just for his own needs and gave away the extra fish to his fellow villagers. Gradually, the hunger began to grow, and net fishing became trawling.<\/p>\n
\u201dWe want to replace tuna with natural domestic fish”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Soon, the fish started biting to such a generous degree that selling fresh fish had to make way for preservation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 1998, we had three different kinds of canned fish in tomato sauce. Back then, we still did everything in different buildings\u201d, <\/em>Markus Tolvanen recalls.<\/p>\n
From there, the operation and the product selection have both grown into the current scale the company operates at. Pielisen Kalajaloste employs 13 workers and produces over 3,000 cans of fish each day. The entire production process happens in a single building. In summer 2019, a new extension for the factory will open, along with a production line that allows increasing production tenfold.<\/p>\n