Schools and hospitals receive food from Värmland's own pantry

Skafferi Värmland bridges the gap between local food producers and large-scale kitchens across the region. Today, hundreds of kitchens in schools, elderly care facilities, and hospitals serve meals prepared with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and products, showcasing a rich variety of traditional and unique flavors from Värmland.

Skafferi Värmland bridges the gap between local food producers and large-scale kitchens across the region. Today, hundreds of kitchens in schools, elderly care facilities, and hospitals serve meals prepared with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and products, showcasing a rich variety of traditional and unique flavors from Värmland.

“We operate similarly to a wholesaler, but our catalog exclusively features regional products,” explains Jonas Enström, CEO and co-owner of Skafferi Värmland. “Our mission also plays a crucial role in building a sustainable and resilient regional food supply system.”

With a career spanning forestry, agriculture, and food production, Jonas has always been closely tied to Värmland’s rural resources. His shift from forestry to food production reflects a commitment to fostering local agriculture and culinary traditions.

A dedicated sales and distribution channel

Skafferi Värmland was founded in 2015 by Hushållningssällskapet to help small-scale food producers reach a broader customer base. Initially focused on providing local products to restaurants and retailers, the company addressed a gap in the supply chain by creating a dedicated sales and distribution channel.

Jonas Enström, alongside his business partner Micke Samstorp, took over the business in 2018.

“We worked with Skafferi Värmland on behalf of Hushållningssällskapet until the board decided to sell the business to a private operator with an interest in continuing to develop the concept.

“When we acquired the company, annual turnover was about 8 million SEK. In the beginning, we had a lot of ups and downs.”

But persistence proved to be the right approach. Over the last years, Skafferi Värmland has experienced consistent growth, with annual revenues increasing by approximately 50% year-over-year. As more food producers discover Skafferi Värmland, and vice versa, the product range has expanded significantly. The company now offers a wide selection, including meat, fruits and vegetables, dairy, flour, eggs, fresh bread, pantry staples, sweets, and beverages.

Collaboration with forward-thinking municipalities

A key driver of Skafferi Värmland’s success has been its strategic focus on supplying local ingredients to public kitchens. This required innovative procurement approaches and collaboration with forward-thinking municipalities and food service managers.

“It began with supplying Värmland-produced meat to municipalities like Kil and Forshaga. This garnered attention, and soon we were partnering with others, including Karlstad."

Public kitchens now represent the company’s largest customer group, with long-term agreements in place with all five municipalities in Dalsland and 14 out of 16 municipalities in Värmland.

“This means that around 450 school kitchens, elderly care facilities, and hospitals receive weekly or bi-weekly deliveries from local producers. This benefits the local economy and ensures transparency about the food served to residents.”

"The local focus will always remain a priority"

Skafferi Värmland has grown to employ nine people, including its owners, with a projected turnover of approximately 60 million SEK for 2024.

“It has been great fun to have the opportunity to build the company from scratch. Now we cover the whole of Värmland and have also expanded southwards with Skafferi Väst, which currently includes the municipality of Vänersborg and the Gothenburg region. The local focus will always remain a priority, no matter where the Skafferi concept expands."

For Skafferi Värmland, it has a deeper, long-term purpose.

“We aim to strengthen the local food system, contributing to a more robust civil defense and regional crisis preparedness. At the same time, we hope to inspire greater appreciation for high-quality, locally sourced ingredients among individuals and businesses. By doing so, we help create a strong foundation for thriving local food producers.”

Skafferi Värmland AB

Skafferi Värmland aggregates and distributes locally produced food and ingredients, supporting farms, artisans, and food companies in Värmland so they can meet the demand for high-quality, locally sourced food while strengthening the regional food system.

Revenue: SEK 38 million (2023)
Operates in: Värmland, parts of Västra Götaland and Örebro Municipality
Number of employees: 9
Website: skafferivarmland.se