Helsinki labelling fine has been issued to Armina Oy, the operator of Alanya Market in the Itis shopping centre, after city inspectors found dozens of food products without Finnish or Swedish labels. The 20,000 euro conditional fine, first reported by Helsingin Uutiset, emphasizes the city’s strict enforcement of EU packaging and labelling regulations.
The penalty follows an inspection on 4 December 2025, which sampled packaged foods across the store. Inspectors discovered multiple items lacked the mandatory language markings. The environment and permits sub-committee approved the fine on 13 February, with the company required to comply by 1 April 2026 to avoid payment.
Alanya Market opened at the end of 2023 in the former Stockmann Food Market Herkku location, covering more than 2,000 square metres and carrying over 10,000 products, many imported from the Middle East and other regions. The store has quickly grown into one of Finland’s largest ethnic grocery chains, with additional locations in Espoo, Tampere, and Turku. Last year, Armina Oy reported a turnover of approximately 8.9 million euros.
EU regulations require that all retail food packaging display information in Finnish and Swedish, including ingredients, allergens, and storage instructions. The Helsinki food safety unit noted that the inspection reviewed only a portion of the store’s inventory because of its size, yet still recorded a significant number of missing labels.
The inspection was prompted by an earlier order on 23 October 2025 instructing Armina Oy to correct labelling deficiencies. Shopkeeper Emin Gürmüç described the process of translating labels as resource-intensive. “There is no such thing that the markings come from the factory. We translate them ourselves,” he told Helsingin Sanomat. Two employees are currently dedicated to translations, and the store aims to meet the compliance deadline.
Gürmüç acknowledged the city’s supervision as reasonable and expressed confidence that the issue will be resolved before 1 April. The case highlights the regulatory challenges facing stores that stock a wide variety of imported foods and underscores the importance of labelling standards in ensuring consumers have access to essential product information.
