Vireko starts as catering producer in parts of Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County

On 30 August and 1 September, seven preparation kitchens, some heating and distribution kitchens and about 48 employees will transfer to Vireko through a business transaction. This means that the food is prepared for service centres and other sites in the same kitchen facilities as before by the same professionals. In addition to the existing personnel, Vireko will recruit approximately 25 new employees.

The Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County executives decided on the outsourcing of catering services and the applicable outsourcing principles in 2023, and the tendering process was decided on for the municipalities mentioned above in February 2024. The catering provider for sites in Raseborg, Hanko, Ingå and Siuntio will be selected by competitive tendering during the spring.

The aim of the outsourcing is to provide all residents and customers with high-quality catering services and to harmonise operating methods. Until now, a number of different operating methods and agreements have been in place in the region.

“The safety and quality of catering services are of the upmost importance to us. I believe that our partnership with Vireko will effectively implement catering services so that quality, safety and operational development are ensured from the very first day,” says Pasi Ojaniemi, Director of Support Services for the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.

The preparatory work for the change in service provider has been carried out since February to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible from the perspective of both customers and staff. The persons responsible at Vireko and the wellbeing services county have toured the kitchens to get to know the facilities and to survey the equipment.

According to Vireko, the preparations with the county have been smooth, with the aim of finding suitable operating models and solutions.

“Vireko cooperates with our client to ensure successful mealtimes for customers. The wellbeing services county knows the wishes and needs of its customers the best, and they have been communicated to us in the service description and even more concretely through meal orders and the ordering system. Good cooperation between us and the client is important, and customers will see the results of our work directly in their high-quality meals,” says Business Director Riikka Ahtiainen.

In the service agreement, Vireko commits to the objectives defined by the County Board, such as continuously developing the services together with the client and reducing food waste and carbon dioxide emissions from transport. As the activities are transferred to Vireko, customers of nursing and care services will continue to receive familiar home food that also pays attention to national nutrition recommendations.

Harmonising the operating models entails changes to the meal order systems, meal times and the content of meals. This will also lead to cost savings. For example, the electronic order system will provide data on order volumes, which will help avoid food waste, in turn.

Vireko is a catering service company established in 2021. Attendo, the parent company, has extensive experience in producing meals for different customer groups. Vireko chefs are currently preparing food in local kitchens in the Kainuu, Päijät-Häme and Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services counties for a total of 4,000 customers of nursing and service homes, hospitals and rehabilitation units as well as 1,200 customers in schools and daycare centres. The services provided to the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County will increase the number of personnel from the current 170 to about 250.