In our My HAVI Story series, we shine a spotlight on long-serving team members who’ve helped shape our company with their dedication, talent, and heart. We’re proud to feature Miika Muhonen, Country Manager for Finland, who marked an incredible milestone in 2025: 20 years with HAVI, half of his lifetime!
A Finnish Journey, Rooted in Dedication
Miika grew up in Finland’s capital region and still lives just a short drive from our Distribution Center in Vantaa with his partner and children. Outside of work, life is bustling. As a proud father of two daughters, aged 14 and 12, he’s often found chauffeuring them to basketball and football practice. When time allows, Miika enjoys unwinding with a round of Frisbee golf, an increasingly popular pastime across Finland and the Nordics.
What Miika Does And Why He Loves It
Miika has served as Country Manager since 2019. What keeps it exciting?
“It’s never the same. One day you’re solving a challenge with a restaurant’s used cooking oil, the next you’re helping a new customer find a way to expand even before their financial support is secured.”
A recent example he shared involves helping a small but ambitious chain expand by showing how savings from HAVI’s offering could fund two new locations annually. For Miika, it’s not just about cost, it’s about listening, solving real problems, and creating value that matters.
From Buns to Boardrooms
Miika’s HAVI journey had a humble beginning. Aged 18, he had a job receiving deliveries at a McDonald’s restaurant. While here, he met a HAVI warehouse manager who invited him to work part-time in the Distribution Center. From there, he moved into full-time roles at HAVI, climbing steadily from warehouse worker to supervisor, to manager, to operations manager, to Country Manager.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky,” Miika says. “But it’s also about being willing to do more than expected, acting before the opportunity arises.”
Miika’s experience across different roles has given him a unique blend of operational know-how and commercial empathy. Today, he champions a mindset that balances high efficiency with deep customer focus.
Miika’s Career Moves at HAVI:
Learning by Thinking
One of Miika’s biggest areas of growth? Perspective.
“Early on, things were black and white. Now I see things from multiple angles — customer, employee, company. It’s made decision-making more complex but also much more informed.”
He also shared how his best ideas often come while away from the computer, like during a walk. “Thinking is work,” he says with a smile.
A Team That Delivers
For Miika, the team in Finland is one of HAVI’s greatest strengths. He’s especially proud of the warehouse and driver teams—those who represent us every day on the front lines.
“Our drivers are often the face of HAVI to our customers. Their professionalism, attitude, and reliability make a real difference.”
He recalls moments when the team came together in extraordinary ways—like during a particularly challenging situation a few years ago, when people gave their all, working around the clock to get things back on track. “There were tears,” he says. “But also this amazing determination.”
That same spirit is something Miika has lived himself. Early in his career, when a supplier delay caused HAVI to miss critical deliveries to both Eastern and Western Finland, he didn’t hesitate to take the initiative to resolve the issue. With the customer’s agreement, he loaded cool boxes filled with ice and products into his personal car and drove more than 2,000 kilometers over one weekend—Saturday to the west, Sunday to the east.
“I remember one restaurant asking why I was delivering just two baby carrots and a few inner bags. They said, ‘We could have survived without this.’ But I told them, ‘This is our promise—and we’ll do whatever it takes to keep it.’”
That hands-on dedication—to the work, the customers, and the team—is exactly what Miika believes defines HAVI at its best.
Why HAVI?
So what keeps him here after 20 years?
“It’s the values, the challenges, and the opportunities to learn. HAVI was one of the first in Finland to switch its own fleet to 100% renewable fuel—and we did it in a way that involved our customers and marketing partners. That kind of innovation and courage makes me proud.”
He encourages others to consider HAVI if they’re eager to learn and grow—but with a heads up on what to expect:
“It’s not always easy. But if you’re willing to put in the effort, HAVI will invest in you. You’ll learn more here in two years than you might elsewhere in ten.”
Final Thoughts
As Miika reflects on having spent more than half his life at HAVI, he smiles:
“If this wasn’t a great company to work for, people wouldn’t stay. I’m not the only one with a long tenure here. HAVI’s culture inspires commitment—and rewards it, too.”
Find out more about Career Growth at HAVI and explore the options available to support your development!
