Fazer becomes the main partner of Special Olympics Finland – working together for a more inclusive world of sports
Fazer’s Oululainen Reilu brand and Special Olympics Finland are strengthening their collaboration which began in 2024. As of 2026, Fazer will act as the main partner of Special Olympics in Finland. The partnership is built on a shared ambition to promote inclusion, wellbeing and the joy of physical activity for people of all ages and abilities.
Special Olympics is an international sports movement that brings the transformative power of sport to life. It provides people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity for regular training, competition, and sharing the joy of sport with friends, families and communities. In Finland, Special Olympics activities are coordinated by the Finnish Paralympic Committee. Together with national sports federations, activities are offered in 22 sports for more than 2,000 athletes and participants.
The aim of the cooperation between Fazer and Special Olympics Finland is to increase awareness of fairness and responsible practices that emphasise inclusion, wellbeing and a sense of community.
Becoming the main partner strengthens Fazer’s role as a company promoting physical activity and wellbeing. The partnership enables broader joint initiatives for the benefit of Special Olympics athletes, coaches and Fazer employees.
“For Fazer, promoting wellbeing means acting in line with our values. Our partnership with Special Olympics Finland is truly close to our heart, and together we can promote wellbeing through concrete actions that strengthen inclusion. We are proud to begin as the main partner of Special Olympics Finland and to continue the important work we have started,” says Anna Kanerva, VP, Brand and Portfolio at Fazer Bakery Finland.
According to Special Olympics Finland, the cooperation has been significant both in terms of visibility and hands-on activities.
“Fazer is an important partner for us – one that genuinely shares our ambition to build a more inclusive world of sports. Joint nutrition workshops and encounters between our athletes and Fazer employees have become real highlights of the collaboration,” says Timo Mäkynen, Partnership Manager at the Finnish Paralympic Committee.
Practical actions supporting inclusion and wellbeing:
• Nutrition workshops at Special Olympics camps: Fazer experts have provided practical guidance for athletes and their supporters on healthy, balanced diets.
• Visibility at the Fazer Experience Visitor Centre: The collaboration was featured at one of the most popular destinations in the Helsinki region, visited annually by approximately 250,000 guests.
• Joint sports try-out days: Fazer employees and Special Olympics athletes have met and tried different sports in low‑threshold events that support community and the joy of movement.
• Visibility on Reilu products: Oululainen Reilu sliced breads continue to play an important role in the collaboration, communicating responsible values directly to consumers.
Roots in the Oululainen Reilu brand
Fazer began its collaboration with Special Olympics in 2024 through Oululainen Reilu brand. The idea has been to bring more fairness and inclusion into consumers’ daily lives – values strongly shared by both the Reilu product family and Special Olympics.
The cooperation is visible on all Oululainen Reilu bread packages, which highlight Special Olympics activities and their message.
The biggest dream of the Finnish “Sisujengi” team is the Special Olympics World Games, taking place in October 2027 in Santiago, Chile.
Further information:
Tarja Kuusela, Communications Director, Fazer Bakery Finland
tarja.kuusela@fazer.com, tel. +358 40 587 6063
Fazer media desk (weekdays 8.00–16.00 EET)
tel. +358 40 668 2998, media@fazer.com
Timo Mäkynen, Partnership Manager, Finnish Paralympic Committee, Special Olympics Finland, timo.makynen@paralympia.fi, tel. 040 159 8199
Finnish Paralympic Committee
The Finnish Paralympic Committee develops and coordinates Finnish para sport from low-threshold participation all the way to international elite sport and is also responsible for Special Olympics activities in Finland. Special Olympics is an international sports movement for all people with intellectual disabilities.
Fazer Bakery Finland
Fazer Bakery Finland is the market leader in the bakery industry in Finland. Fazer’s large bakeries are located in Vantaa, Lahti and Lappeenranta. The company also operates 140 in-store bakeries in grocery stores, where artisan bakers handcraft bread on-site using Finnish flour. Fazer Bakery employs approximately 1,600 people in Finland. The domestic content of bakery product manufacturing is 94%.
Fazer Group
Fazer, The Food Experience Company, enables people to enjoy the best moments of their day. Our mission, Food with a purpose, builds on our strong more than 130-year heritage, consumer first approach and innovations to create the sustainable food solutions of the future. With our dedicated team of approximately 5,000 professionals, we focus on fast-moving consumer goods and our direct-to-consumer business in Northern Europe, and beyond with exports to more than 40 countries. Fazer’s operations comply with its Code of Conduct that is based on the Group’s values and the UN Global Compact. In 2024, Fazer Group had net sales of 1.200 million euros.
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