1.7.2021

Valio – Acquisition of Heinon Tukku

Related services

We advised Valio in the purchase of all the shares of Heinon Tukku Oy from Tukkuheino Oy and other shareholders. The acquisition is part of Valio’s aim to be a more comprehensive partner to restaurant and coffee shop professionals. In the future, Valio will be a single-source supplier of everything a professional kitchen needs, providing not only an extensive selection of raw materials, but also support in product development and in creating meal and snack concepts.

‘Acquiring Heinon Tukku is a natural step that aligns with our strategy. Our goal is to be a front runner in food sector solutions, and Heinon Tukku’s know-how and broad product portfolio will bring a significant addition to this. We also share a similar set of values. Heinon Tukku is a traditional family-owned company, and Valio’s owners, in turn, are Finnish dairy farmers’, says Tuomas Sorri, who is the head of the new business unit created by the acquisition.

Valio is a Finnish dairy and food group founded in 1905 and is owned by Finnish regional dairy co-operatives. Valio has subsidiaries in Russia, Sweden, the Baltics, the USA and China. It had net sales of EUR 1,787 million in 2019 and employs over 4,000 professionals.

Heinon Tukku Oy has been in business for over 120 years and is today one of Finland’s largest wholesalers serving professional kitchens. Heinon Tukku’s turnover in 2020 was about EUR 170 million. About 340 employees will transfer to Valio through the acquisition.

The transaction was approved by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority in June 2021.

Our team

Latest references

Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre – Precedent concerning patient data processing and repeal of administrative fine

The Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) issued a significant precedent (decision KHO:2025:23) in a case in which it found that the Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre (Liikennevakuutuskeskus, LVK) processed patient data in accordance with the requirements concerning fairness, data minimisation, and privacy by design and by default when deciding on compensation claims. We represented LVK in this case in which the SAC upheld the Administrative Court’s decision to repeal the EUR 52,000 administrative fine imposed on LVK by the Sanctions Board of the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman. The SAC also confirmed the Administrative Court’s decision, which, as far as we know, was the first of its kind in Finland, ordering the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman to reimburse some of our client’s legal costs. The decision bears great significance for the insurance industry as a whole. The crux of the matter were LVK’s information requests under the Motor Liability Insurance Act for patient data that were essential in determining insurance or compensation claims. In certain cases, making a decision may require extensive patient data. The Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman had found that LVK had systematically made overly broad information requests infringing Articles 5 and 25 of the GDPR and that the information should have been provided in the form of separate medical opinions. The Administrative Court repealed the Data Protection Ombudsman’s decision and found that patient records from medical appointments are, as a general rule, essential in establishing causality in compensation matters. It also stated that the tasks related to the consideration of compensation matters are specifically the core tasks of the insurance company and not of the controller of patient data. Furthermore, the Administrative Court found no evidence indicating that LVK would have systematically made overly broad information requests. ‘Once again, our collaboration with C&S was seamless throughout this extensive process, and we could trust that our case was in expert hands’, says Visa Kronbäck, Chief Legal Officer of the Insurance Centre. The full decision is available on the SAC website (in Finnish): KHO:2025:23.

Ilkka Paananen Foundation – Legal assessment of a chatbot system using generative AI

We advised the Ilkka Paananen Foundation on a legal review relating to the use of a chatbot system utilising generative artificial intelligence. The AI system provides conversational support to young people experiencing mental health issues and various life crises. Our advice covered the AI Act, which regulates advanced AI systems, as well as data protection and other relevant local legislation.

Pihlajalinna – Sale of special housing services

We advised Pihlajalinna Plc on an arrangement whereby Pihlajalinna Terveys Oy and Ikipihlaja Setälänpiha Oy sold their special housing services business to Esperi Care Oy. The transaction involved three Pihlajalinna Uniikki units in Hämeenlinna, Lohja and Riihimäki as well as Ikipihlaja Oiva in Raisio. As a result of the arrangement, more than 100 employees transferred to Esperi. Pihlajalinna is one of Finland’s leading private providers of social and healthcare services, offering a wide range of services to both private and public sector clients. Pihlajalinna has more than 160 locations across Finland.

PwC – Public tender in Kela’s Eepos procurement process

We are proud to have provided legal assistance to PwC in the successful public tendering process for the comprehensive renewal of Kela’s benefits processing systems. Kela is the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, and this project is a significant cornerstone in modernising Finland’s social security infrastructure. PwC was selected as Kela’s strategic partner to implement a comprehensive overhaul of the benefits processing systems, digital services, customer relationship management, and information exchange platforms. The project aims to meet the demands of the future digital environment and enhance customer experience through the adoption of Salesforce technology. The new systems are expected to simplify benefit processes, enhance user experience for both customers, employees and other stakeholders, and ensure adaptability to future legislative changes. Castrén & Snellman provided strategic legal support to PwC throughout its successful bidding process, which was carried out through a competitive negotiated procedure. We extend our warmest congratulations to PwC for their successful bid and look forward to seeing the positive impact of this project on Finland’s social security system.

Search from the site.