New facilities are accelerating Kuopion Woodi’s international growth
Furniture manufacturer Kuopion Woodi has taken significant growth leaps in recent years. Known for its solid wood furniture for daycare centres, schools and care facilities, the company has steadily expanded its presence, particularly in Central European markets. This long-term effort received tangible recognition when the company was named Wood Industry Company of the Year 2026.
Behind this successful development is the company’s bold investment in a new factory spanning more than 15,000 square metres. According to Onni Rissanen, Commercial Director of Kuopion Woodi, the investment was driven by a genuine business need.
“Last year, we experienced strong growth, and the capacity of our previous facilities was reaching its limit. We simply ran out of space. And when we decide to invest, we want to maximise all the benefits that investment can bring,” says Rissanen.
The new factory brings production, design, warehousing and sales together under one roof. The integrated facility enables more efficient production processes and stronger collaboration between different functions.
“Logistics and communication between different parts of production and our office staff are now much smoother. It may sound like a simple thing, but it makes a tremendous difference in day-to-day operations,” Rissanen emphasises.
Aiming for €30 million in revenue
Today, Kuopion Woodi is one of Finland’s largest companies focused exclusively on furniture manufacturing. The company’s growth ambitions are substantial. By 2030, Woodi aims to reach annual revenue of €30 million, with half of that generated from exports.
Germany is the company’s most important target market and already represents a strong foothold for the business.
“Germany is naturally our primary export market. It is Europe’s largest early childhood education market, and we have already furnished more than 200 daycare centres there. We are now building an even stronger partner network in Germany and neighbouring countries,” says Rissanen.
In a competitive market, Woodi relies particularly on the quality and sustainability of its products, as well as its in-house capabilities.
“Solid wood sets us apart from many competitors. In addition, we handle manufacturing, product development, design and sales ourselves. We do as much as possible in-house, and that gives us a significant competitive advantage.”
Recognition strengthened confidence in the company’s direction
The Wood Industry Company of the Year 2026 award, presented by the Finnish Woodworking Industries Association (Puuteollisuus ry), was an important acknowledgement that long-term work can deliver results even in a challenging market environment.
“The award gave us confidence that we have genuinely succeeded. We have received a great deal of positive visibility through the recognition, and it has also strengthened customers’ perception of our company.”
According to Rissanen, the award also sends a broader message about the opportunities available to the Finnish furniture industry.
“It reinforces the idea that competitive furniture can be designed and manufactured in Finland and Kuopio, and successfully sold in international markets as well.”
Kuopio supports recruitment and employment
As the company grows, so does the need for skilled employees. Rissanen sees the City of Kuopio as an important enabler in this respect. He gives particular credit to the city’s youth recruitment support programme.
Through the programme, employers can receive significant financial support for hiring unemployed jobseekers under the age of 29. Woodi was quick to make use of the opportunity.
“We currently employ three young people through this support programme. We have been extremely satisfied with the arrangement. They have all integrated well into the organisation and have brought real value to our operations.”
The young employees work in areas including sales, marketing and sustainability.
“These were roles for which we had already been considering additional resources for some time. Thanks to the support, we were able to move forward with recruitment more quickly.”
During its growth years, Woodi has successfully attracted employees not only from Kuopio but also from elsewhere in Finland and abroad. Rissanen believes the attractiveness of Kuopio has strengthened in recent years.
“Kuopio has become more attractive. People are willing to move here for work and for the excellent quality of life.”
Sustainability as a driver of future growth
Woodi is continuously developing its sustainability practices and wants to make them visible and easy for customers to assess. The company sees transparency in sustainability as an important element in building trust and maintaining future competitiveness.
“The importance of sustainability and quality is constantly increasing for our customers. We want them to have clear and reliable information about our products and the sustainability of our operations to support their decision-making. We believe this openness and long-term development work will also create a competitive advantage for us in the future,” says Rissanen.
Woodi’s story demonstrates how systematic development, international ambitions and bold investments can generate growth even in challenging times. At the same time, it highlights the important role that the operating environment and local growth-supporting solutions can play in a company’s success.
“We have been building this business systematically for years. Now it feels like the foundation is strong, and we are genuinely ready to pursue the next stage of growth.”
Text: Creative marketing agency Ida Fram
Photos: Kuopion Woodi
