Even in an ice cream factory, people bake and need an oven.

The demand for gluten-free products is constantly growing, and consumers are looking for quality alternatives, including treats. Ice cream manufacturer 3 Kaveria, based in Kivikko, Helsinki, uses a gluten-free flour blend tailored to their needs in collaboration with Virtasalmi Viljatuotte.

Gluten-free is still a rising trend

More and more consumers are turning to gluten-free options, and the same trend can be seen in the ice cream world.3 Kaveri's ice creams have been made from scratch, taking into account food restrictions such as lactose-free, vegan and gluten-free. This persistent work was rewarded last March when 3 Kaveri was chosen by the Coeliac Association as the Gluten Free Company of 2024

"Gluten-free is an important policy for us and we closely follow consumer trends. Demand for gluten-free products is constantly growing in both Finland and Sweden, which gives us a clear competitive advantage. For example, gluten-free butternut squash can be found in the products of only a few ice cream companies besides us," says Micael Saranpää, Production Director.

The ice cream factory also bakes

Virtasalmi Viljatuote developed a gluten-free flour blend for 3 Friends to meet their specific needs, which is used in the original Piparkakku ice cream, which has been on the market for more than five years, and in the vegan version launched in 2024, as well as in Mutakakakku ice cream. The gingerbread and mud cake are baked in-house, in the same factory in Kiviko.

"Our collaboration with Viljatuotte started with our need to find a domestic, reliable partner for gluten-free flour blends. Viljatuotte's expertise and interest in product development were significant. They understood our needs and together we were able to create just the right flour blend to work in our products in a very short timeframe." says Marko Sukander, responsible for product development of 3 Kaveria ice creams.

"The uninterrupted availability of raw materials and the reliability of deliveries are also important factors for us when selecting suppliers and ensuring the continuity of production," says Heidi Kaipiainen, Procurement Manager. "So far, Viljatuote has been 100 per cent successful in this respect."

Gluten-free is the competitive advantage of today and tomorrow

Producing gluten-free products is a clear competitive advantage for 3 Kaver, as many competitors still have a very limited range of gluten-free options. As the market has grown, 3 Kaveria has been well placed to meet the increasing demand. Currently, 3 Kaveri's ice creams are sold not only in Finland but also in Sweden.

"We see further growth potential for our products serving people with special dietary needs. We want to continue to follow trends closely and respond to consumer demands," says Micael Saranpää, Production Director. "The cooperation with Virtasalmi Cereal Products is part of this strategy and we hope it will continue in the same way - with precision, flexibility and taking into account our future needs."

3 Friends

✅ The 3 guys are Heikki Huotari, Ilkka Wikholm and Sauli Saarnisto
✅ Founded in Helsinki in 2012, capital owner from 2021 by Finnish Sentica Partners Oy
✅ Invests in sustainability and high-quality, locally sourced raw materials.
✅ In addition to cream ice creams, vegan and lactose-free jars, tubs and sticks
✅ All 3 kaveria ice creams are gluten-free.
✅ Turnover in 2024 was approximately 15 million euros
✅ The company employs 40 people.