Hartwall
A Finnish beverage company whose portfolio spans soft drinks, mineral waters, juices, cider, beer, and the distinctive grapefruit-based Hartwall Original Long Drink.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Hartwall is a Finnish beverage company founded in 1836 and headquartered in Helsinki. Its business covers both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, including mineral waters, soft drinks, juices, cider, lager beer, and ready-to-drink mixed beverages. The company is associated with brands such as Jaffa, Pommac, Novelle, Upcider, Lapin Kulta, Karjala, and Hartwall Original Long Drink. It also holds Finnish manufacturing and sales licences for PepsiCo brands including Pepsi, 7 Up, and Mountain Dew. Hartwall's best-known product is its grapefruit-based gin long drink, introduced in connection with the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. The drink was developed partly for international visitors and for practical service in Finnish bars, where a pre-mixed beverage did not require separately stocked mixers. Its popularity extended beyond the Olympic event and made the product a defining part of Finnish drinking culture. The company describes the long drink as a major mixed-drink product in Finland. The Jaffa soft-drink brand was introduced during the 1940s and became another important part of Hartwall's non-alcoholic portfolio. Other products include Novelle mineral waters, Pommac, fruit drinks, and a range of carbonated beverages. In alcoholic drinks, Hartwall has produced or marketed cider and beer brands including Upcider, Lapin Kulta, Karjala, and Foster's under local production arrangements. Hartwall's ownership changed several times in the twenty-first century. Scottish & Newcastle acquired the company in 2002. Following the acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle in 2008, Hartwall became part of Heineken. Danish brewer Royal Unibrew acquired Hartwall in 2013, placing the Finnish company within a broader international beverage group while retaining its established local brand portfolio. The company operates a brewery in Lahti. A specialist beer brewery connected with the Lahti facility was completed in 2017 and named Mattsson after a local beer influencer. Hartwall subsequently opened a Brewery Shop at its Lahti factory in May 2019. The company remains principally identified with the Finnish market and with a combination of long-established domestic brands, licensed international soft drinks, and locally significant alcoholic beverages.
History
Hartwall was founded in Finland in 1836 and developed into a broad beverage company serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic categories. Its portfolio has included mineral water, soft drinks, juices, cider, beer, and prepared mixed beverages. The company is based in Helsinki and has a significant production presence in Lahti. One of Hartwall's most important products emerged in the context of the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. The company introduced a gin-based long drink with grapefruit flavour for the event. It was intended to suit foreign visitors and was convenient for bars because it was supplied as a ready-mixed beverage at a time when mixers were not widely available. The product became popular with Finnish consumers after the Olympics and developed into Hartwall Original Long Drink, one of the company's most recognizable offerings. Hartwall also built a substantial non-alcoholic business. Jaffa was introduced in the 1940s, while Novelle mineral waters and Pommac became associated with the company's soft-drink and water portfolio. Hartwall produces and markets additional fruit drinks and carbonated beverages. In Finland, the company has also manufactured and sold PepsiCo products under licence, including Pepsi, 7 Up, and Mountain Dew. Its alcoholic range has included Upcider cider and beer brands such as Lapin Kulta and Karjala. Hartwall has also been the local producer of Foster's lager. This combination of domestic brands, licensed international products, and local production has allowed the company to operate across several beverage segments rather than depend on a single category. The company's corporate ownership changed during a period of consolidation in the European brewing industry. Scottish & Newcastle purchased Hartwall in 2002. When Scottish & Newcastle was acquired in 2008, Hartwall became owned by Heineken. Royal Unibrew, a Danish brewing group, acquired Hartwall in 2013. Hartwall therefore retained its Finnish operating identity while becoming part of a larger international beverage group. In 2017, Hartwall completed a special beer brewery associated with its Lahti brewery. The facility was named Mattsson in recognition of a local beer influencer. In May 2019, the company opened a Brewery Shop at the Lahti factory. These developments added specialist brewing and a visitor-facing retail element to Hartwall's established production operations. The company remains primarily a Finnish beverage business with a portfolio rooted in local brand history and broad category coverage.
- 2019
Brewery Shop opens in Lahti
[1]Hartwall opened a Brewery Shop at its Lahti factory in May.
- 2017
Mattsson special brewery completed
[1]A specialist beer brewery was completed at the Lahti site and named Mattsson.
- 2013
Royal Unibrew acquisition
[1]Royal Unibrew acquired Hartwall.
- 2008
Ownership passes to Heineken
[1]Hartwall became part of Heineken following Heineken's acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle.
- 2002
Scottish & Newcastle acquisition
[1]Scottish & Newcastle purchased Hartwall.
- 1952
Gin Long Drink is introduced for the Helsinki Olympics
[1]Hartwall introduced its grapefruit-based gin long drink in connection with the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.
- 1940
Jaffa is introduced
[1]The Jaffa soft-drink brand was introduced during the 1940s.
- 1836
Hartwall is founded
[1]Hartwall was established in Finland and later developed into a diversified beverage producer.
Products and positioning
A Finnish heritage beverage producer combining long-established domestic brands with licensed international soft drinks and a broad portfolio of beer, cider, water, and ready-to-drink products.
Ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage · 1952
Hartwall Original Long Drink
A grapefruit-based gin long drink introduced for the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics. It was designed as a convenient pre-mixed beverage for bars and visitors and later became one of Finland's most widely consumed mixed-drink products.
Soft drink · 1940
Jaffa
A Hartwall soft-drink brand introduced in the 1940s. It forms part of the company's long-established Finnish carbonated-drink portfolio.
Mineral water
Novelle
A mineral-water brand in Hartwall's non-alcoholic beverage range.
Soft drink
Pommac
A soft-drink brand included in Hartwall's Finnish beverage portfolio.
Cider
Upcider
A cider brand within Hartwall's alcoholic beverage range.
Lager beer
Lapin Kulta
A lager beer brand produced or marketed as part of Hartwall's beer portfolio.
Beer
Karjala
A beer brand associated with Hartwall's Finnish alcoholic beverage business.
Licensed soft drinks
Pepsi, 7 Up and Mountain Dew
International soft-drink brands for which Hartwall holds Finnish manufacturing and sales licences, according to the referenced company description.
Marketing campaigns
- 1952Helsinki Summer Olympics long-drink introduction
Finland
Hartwall introduced its grapefruit-based gin long drink in connection with the Helsinki Olympics, targeting the practical needs and tastes of international visitors while creating a product that subsequently became popular with Finnish consumers.
Outcome. The product outlasted the event and became a defining Finnish ready-to-drink beverage.
Brand decisions
2017
Development of the Mattsson specialist breweryOtherBackground
Hartwall expanded specialist brewing activity at its Lahti brewery.
Action taken
The company completed a special beer brewery and named it Mattsson after a local beer influencer.
Aftermath
The Lahti site gained an additional specialist brewing facility.
2013
Acquisition by Royal UnibrewM&ABackground
Hartwall was sold after its period under Heineken ownership.
Action taken
Danish brewer Royal Unibrew bought Hartwall.
Aftermath
Hartwall became part of Royal Unibrew while continuing as a Finnish beverage business.
2008
Transfer to Heineken ownershipM&ABackground
Heineken acquired Scottish & Newcastle, whose businesses included Hartwall.
Action taken
Hartwall became part of Heineken.
Aftermath
Hartwall remained under Heineken until its acquisition by Royal Unibrew in 2013.
2002
Sale to Scottish & NewcastleM&ABackground
Hartwall entered new ownership through a transaction with the United Kingdom-based Scottish & Newcastle group.
Action taken
Scottish & Newcastle purchased Hartwall.
Aftermath
Hartwall later changed ownership again when Scottish & Newcastle was acquired in 2008.
Sources2 sources
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