Olvi
Finnish beverage group producing beer, cider, long drinks, soft drinks, energy drinks, water, and hard seltzers.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Olvi plc, or Olvi Oyj, is a Finnish brewery and broader beverage group headquartered in Iisalmi. Established in 1878 by brewer Williams Gideon Åberg and his wife Onni, the company developed from a regional Finnish brewery into one of the country’s leading beverage manufacturers. Its portfolio spans beer, cider, long drinks, soft drinks, energy drinks, mineral water, and hard seltzers, combining the Olvi brand with a group of national and regional beverage brands. The company’s core Finnish business includes Olvi beers and soft drinks, Sandels beer, Olvi long drinks, Fizz cider, TEHO energy drinks, and a range of waters and non-alcoholic refreshments. Through subsidiaries and associated operations, the group also markets brands such as A. Le Coq in Estonia, Cēsu Alus in Latvia, Volfas Engelman in Lithuania, and Lidskoe Pivo in Belarus. Its international structure gives Olvi exposure to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage categories and to different retail, hospitality, and distribution systems across Northern and Eastern Europe. Olvi is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki under the ticker OLVAS. The group has been described as the largest Finnish-owned company in its sector and as Finland’s third-largest producer of beer, cider, and soft drinks, with a reported 18.7% share of the Finnish beverage market in the referenced Wikipedia material. Its Baltic subsidiaries are significant local operators: A. Le Coq is identified as Estonia’s second-largest beverage company, while Volfas Engelman is identified as Lithuania’s third-largest beverage company. Olvi’s expansion has included acquisitions, local operating companies, licensed brands, and export activity. In 2021 it acquired a controlling stake in Denmark’s A/S Bryggeriet Vestfyen, strengthening its presence in the Danish brewing market. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Olvi announced that it would stop exports to Russia and withdraw from Belarus. The group’s later reported interest in the Brewery International Group would extend its activities into Sweden and Norway, particularly in beverage importing and distribution across grocery, on-trade, and state-controlled alcohol channels. The brand is positioned around Finnish brewing heritage, broad beverage choice, and a mixture of local-market brands and international products. Although beer remains central to its identity, Olvi’s growth model is not limited to brewing: ciders, ready-to-drink long drinks, energy drinks, soft drinks, flavored waters, and hard seltzers broaden its relevance across occasions and consumer preferences.
History
Olvi traces its origins to 1878, when brewer Williams Gideon Åberg and his wife Onni established the brewery that became the foundation of the modern company. The business was created during a period when Finnish brewing was increasingly organized around identifiable regional breweries and branded products. Its base in Iisalmi remains central to the company’s identity and connects the corporate group to Finnish brewing heritage. Over time, Olvi expanded beyond a single brewery and developed a wider beverage portfolio. Beer continued to be the principal category, but the company also entered cider, long drinks, soft drinks, energy drinks, and water. In Finland, the Olvi and Sandels brands became important parts of the group’s consumer offering, while products such as Fizz cider and Olvi long drinks helped it participate in ready-to-drink and mixed-beverage occasions. The company also developed or marketed non-alcoholic products, including soft drinks, energy drinks, mineral waters, and flavored waters. A major stage in Olvi’s development was its internationalization through subsidiaries and local brands. A. Le Coq gave the group a significant position in Estonia. In Latvia, Olvi has been associated with Cēsu Alus, while in Lithuania it operates through Volfas Engelman. The group has also had business activities in Belarus through Lidskoe Pivo and maintained operations connected with Ukraine. These markets allowed Olvi to use local brands, production capabilities, and distribution networks rather than relying only on exports from Finland. Olvi’s international portfolio also includes licensed beer brands and products sold through partner or regional distribution arrangements. The referenced product list includes Starobrno and Warsteiner under license, as well as brands and products associated with markets outside Northern Europe. This illustrates the group’s combination of proprietary brands, subsidiary brands, licensed products, and distribution-led activities. In May 2021, Olvi bought a controlling stake in A/S Bryggeriet Vestfyen, a Danish brewery described in the source material as the country’s fourth-largest brewery. The transaction broadened the group’s Nordic production and market footprint. The company’s geographic strategy changed materially after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On March 5, 2022, Olvi announced that it would end exports to Russia and leave Belarus, demonstrating the effect of geopolitical and ethical considerations on its operating structure. The group’s reported 18.7% share of Finland’s beverage market places it among the country’s leading producers of beer, cider, and soft drinks. Olvi is described as Finland’s third-largest producer in these categories and the largest Finnish-owned company in its sector. Its listed-company structure provides access to public capital markets while its operating model remains focused on beverage manufacturing, brand management, subsidiaries, and distribution. In December 2025, the company was reported to have announced a planned majority acquisition of the Brewery International Group. The proposed transaction would strengthen Olvi’s presence in Sweden and Norway and extend its role in beverage importing and distribution across grocery retail, the on-trade, and state-controlled alcohol-monopoly channels. Taken together, Olvi’s history shows a progression from a regional Finnish brewery to a diversified Northern European beverage group, with continued emphasis on local brands, category expansion, and selective international growth.
- 2025
Reported expansion into Sweden and Norway
[1]A December 2025 announcement reportedly covered Olvi’s planned acquisition of a majority share in Brewery International Group.
- 2022
Withdrawal from Russia and Belarus
[1]Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Olvi announced that it would stop exports to Russia and leave Belarus.
- 2021
Entry into a controlling position in Bryggeriet Vestfyen
[1]Olvi acquired a controlling stake in Danish brewery A/S Bryggeriet Vestfyen.
- 1878
Founding of the brewery
[1]Williams Gideon Åberg and his wife Onni founded the brewery in Iisalmi that became the basis of Olvi.
Products and positioning
Finnish brewing heritage combined with a broad, multi-category beverage portfolio and strong Baltic presence.
Beer
Olvi beer
Olvi’s core Finnish beer range includes products such as Ykkönen, III, Export, Tuplapukki, and HALKO. The portfolio covers mainstream lager and stronger or specialty-oriented offerings, supporting the company’s long-standing identity as a Finnish brewery.
Beer
Sandels
Sandels is a major Olvi beer brand with variants including III, IV A, Tumma, and special editions. It is positioned as a recognizable Finnish beer line within Olvi’s domestic portfolio.
Beer and beverages
A. Le Coq
A. Le Coq is an Estonian beverage brand and subsidiary business associated with beer and other drinks. The reference material identifies it as Estonia’s second-largest beverage company, making it one of Olvi’s most important Baltic operations.
Cider
Fizz
Fizz is Olvi’s cider line, including Original Dry and Extra Dry variants. It extends the group’s offering beyond beer into packaged cider and ready-to-drink alcoholic refreshment occasions.
Long drink
Olvi long drinks
Olvi’s long-drink portfolio includes flavors such as cranberry, mojito, and Kultalonkero. These products serve Finland’s established long-drink category and complement the group’s beer and cider businesses.
Hard seltzer
Hard Seltzer
Olvi’s hard-seltzer products include Juiced Raspberry, Mango-Pineapple, Strawberry-Rhubarb, and Lemon and Lime. The line gives the group participation in flavored, lower-complexity alcoholic refreshment formats.
Soft drink
Olvi soft drinks
The soft-drink portfolio includes Olvi-branded refreshments such as Jaffa, cola, and lemon-flavored drinks. These products diversify the company’s consumer reach beyond alcohol and support its position as a general beverage manufacturer.
Energy drink
TEHO
TEHO is Olvi’s energy-drink brand. It represents the group’s participation in functional and stimulant beverage categories alongside traditional refreshment products.
Mineral water and flavored water
KevytOlo
KevytOlo covers mineral and flavored water products, including plain water and flavors such as cranberry, strawberry-lemon, blackcurrant, pear, lemon, green apple, and raspberry with calcium. The range adds low- or no-alcohol options to Olvi’s portfolio.
Beer and beverages
Volfas Engelman
Volfas Engelman is Olvi’s Lithuanian beverage business and brand family. The reference material identifies it as Lithuania’s third-largest beverage company, reflecting the importance of local Baltic operations to the group.
Brand decisions
2025
Planned majority acquisition of Brewery International GroupM&ABackground
Olvi was reported to be pursuing further Nordic expansion and greater access to beverage importing and distribution channels.
Action taken
The company announced plans to acquire a majority share in Brewery International Group.
Aftermath
If completed, the transaction would strengthen Olvi’s presence in Sweden and Norway across grocery retail, on-trade, and state-controlled alcohol markets.
2022
Exit from Russia and BelarusStrategyBackground
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine created a major geopolitical and operational disruption for companies active in the region.
Action taken
Olvi announced that it would cease exports to Russia and leave Belarus.
Aftermath
The decision reduced Olvi’s exposure to the Russian and Belarusian markets and marked a significant change in its Eastern European operating footprint.
2021
Acquisition of a controlling stake in A/S Bryggeriet VestfyenM&ABackground
Olvi sought to strengthen its Nordic brewing footprint through a controlling investment in a Danish brewery.
Action taken
Olvi acquired a controlling stake in A/S Bryggeriet Vestfyen.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Olvi’s operations into Denmark and added a local brewery to its international group structure.
Recent events
- 2025
Olvi planned to acquire a majority share in Brewery International Group[1]
M&A
In December 2025, Olvi was reported to have announced an intended majority investment in the Brewery International Group, expanding its importing and distribution presence in Sweden and Norway.
- 2022
Olvi stopped exports to Russia and announced its exit from Belarus[1]
Regulation
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Olvi announced on March 5 that it would cease exports to Russia and leave its Belarusian operations.
- 2021
Olvi acquired a controlling stake in A/S Bryggeriet Vestfyen[1]
M&A
Olvi announced the acquisition of a controlling shareholding in Denmark’s A/S Bryggeriet Vestfyen, described in the reference material as Denmark’s fourth-largest brewery.
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/olvi · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled