There is great demand for Foodfiles' know-how in nutrition research. The objective now is to make European companies exploit Finnish know-how with increasing vigour.

Oy Foodfiles Ltd specializes in the testing and R&D of functional foods and nutrition consultation.

"We carry out clinical trials that start with customer needs in order to authenticate the health effects of foods. We also perform clinical medical tests in areas closely associated with nutrition," says Essi Sarkkinen, the managing and research director.

Foodfiles' know-how also includes food registration services such as Novel Food applications, processing pre-approval for health claims and approval processes.

"The documentation we produce is an essential part of the approval process for a food's health claim or its safety - and on the medical side it is correspondingly clinical evidence needed in the application processes for pharmaceuticals sales permits.

Well-known in Finland and Europe

In Finland Foodfiles is extremely well-known and the only player operating on a corporate base and providing professional research services in nutrition. The reference list has familiar names such as Atria, AstraZeneca, Olvi, Valio and Danisco.

"In Europe we are known in particular as a provider of registration services. For example, we assist European and American companies coming onto the Nordic market to get their products registered and onto the market," says Sarkkinen.

Future growth will be based on obtaining customers beyond Finnish borders. At this moment exports account for about 20 per cent of net sales.

"We are making efforts to increase the share all the time. Our challenge for the future is get European companies to utilize Finnish know-how in nutrition research."

>> www.foodfiles.com

Foodfiles has grown within a few years into a service company with a turnover of one million euros.