Arctic Food Lab – a brand for northern flavours and culture
Arctic Food Lab is the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture year’s food culture programme, showcasing the unique flavours, pure Arctic ingredients and rich food traditions of the Oulu region and Northern Finland. This registered brand tells consumers and tourists the story of northern food – its roots, its makers and its localness.
The power of northern food culture
The brand is a guarantee of quality and origin. Products and services bearing the Arctic Food Lab label are based on sustainable development and local ingredients that have been grown and matured in the Arctic. The brand offers tourists the opportunity to identify locally produced food and experience the flavours of the region. It will appear on product packaging, in restaurants and shops, connecting local actors.
The Arctic Food Lab is more than food products – it is a window on the northern way of life, culture and nature. The brand highlights the uniqueness of the Arctic and brings together tourism, gastronomy and cultural heritage. It supports local entrepreneurs, promotes food tourism and increases the region’s international appeal.
By joining the Arctic Food Lab network, operators become part of the unique story of the Capital of Culture year. Together, we will put the story of northern flavours on the map of Europe and create experiences that will stay in the hearts of tourists and locals. Arctic Food Lab is not just a brand – it is a promise of northern purity, responsibility and authentic taste.
Arctic Food Lab values
- We favour local employment. We support services and businesses in the Oulu2026 area. Our aim is to employ local people. We involve businesses in matters that concern them.
- We favour local ingredients. By using local ingredients, we support producers in our region and ensure that our food culture remains vibrant and genuinely rooted in northern soil. For us, localism is not just a choice, but a way to maintain a sustainable and distinctive food heritage.
- We value the cultural heritage of our region. We strive to present it as an authentic and respected part of our northern identity. Our aim is to revive, strengthen and maintain the traditions that carry the stories of the North from one generation to the next. At the same time, we recognise that culture has always been the result of interaction. It lives, changes and is enriched by encounters with others.
- We work together fairly. We develop food tourism in partnership with other players in our region and in our sector. What we do is sustainable for future generations.
- We take care of nature. We promote the provision of services in an environmentally friendly way. We leave no trace in the environment and do not consume nature.
Welcome to discover the flavours that tell the story of the Arctic!