We believe that meat, in the right amounts from the right farms, is a valuable part of a happy and healthy life. That is why we take the lead in creating a sustainable approach to meat.
Naturally safe meat
Our contract farmers rear cattle in Finland. HKFoods’ contract farms in Finland are committed to following strict guidelines for animal rearing, feeding, health care and biosecurity. Finland is well suited for beef production as it is good to grow grasses and produce grass feed here. Production of milk and beef maintains food self-sufficiency and animal grazing supports biodiversity.
In our operating countries, more than 80 per cent of beef comes from animals in the milk production chain, which means that the carbon footprint of production is proportionally lower than in separated meat production. In addition to dairy and meat products, the carcasses of the cattle are fully utilised to produce leather and gelatine, among other things. Read more about beef production in the Nordics.
While the use of antibiotics in our operations is already very low, we continue to carefully and systematically monitor their use within our primary production as well as in our contract production. The quality of HKFoods products is also assured through compliance to high quality and environmental standards, with nearly all our units certified under ISO 9001, ISO/FSSC 22000, BRC and ISO 14001 standards. Slaughter and cutting policies at HKFoods' main production facilities follow strict EU and USDA regulations.
Export beef category
HKFoods beef assortment includes a variety of beef cuts from Finland, Sweden and Estonia. We offer safe beef products and superior cuts with fresh taste to retail, HoReCa and industry customers.
Visit our export product catalogue
Quality Nordic cuisine is our passion. We strive to make everyday life easier with products that are tasty, modern, innovative and easy to use. We offer innovative products manufactured under strict Nordic regulations, ensuring the highest possible standards of food safety.
Cattle farming in Nordics
Our farmers make sure that there are enough feeding and drinking places for the entire herd. Cattle are ruminants that spend most of the day collecting feed, chewing and ruminating. Cattle eat 8 to 12 hours and ruminate 6 to 9 hours a day. In Finland, there is no soy in beef cattle feed.
Cattle are intelligent and social animals that spends most of its time eating, chewing and resting. Cattle form close relationships and develop a strict hierarchy. Licking other members of the herd is an important part of social interaction. For calves, playing is a particularly important way to learn social skills and body control.
Despite their sociability, cattle also need peace. Adult cattle rest for 11 to 13 hours a day. The lying area must be soft, spacious, peaceful and well ventilated. Straw, peat and rubber mats are used as litter and bedding. Too short a rest or uncomfortable lying area may cause stress and predispose to illness.
HKFoods' Finnish beef carbon footprint is 35 per cent lower than in Europe. HKFoods has worked closely with contract farmers for over a hundred years. Internationally small carbon footprint of HKFoods' Finnish HK Ehta beef is an indication of long-term work for the environment.
The carbon footprint includes the climate impacts related to the animal and its farming, such as feed, manure system, energy, litter, digestion and transportation. In beef production, the most significant emissions are caused by feed and digestion of cattle, totalling about 70 per cent of carbon footprints.
