Oy Lahtis Bränneri Ab (Lahden Polttimo) was established as a spirits distillery in Lahti, Finland during the time of strict legislation on alcohol.
1888
Ferdinand Frigren started beer brewing.1897
Yeast production started.1919
Finland enacted prohibition.1931
88 breweries in Finland, using 3 100 tons of malt.1932
After a national referendum, the prohibition was ended due to increased smuggling, violence and crime rates.Malt production started. Finnish breweries now used over 3 800 tons of malt.
1952
The first and so far the only Summer Olympics in Finland. Use of malt in Finnish breweries: 13 500 tons.1959
Export of malt started.1964
Use of malt in Finnish breweries nearly 18 500 tons of which approx. 12 000 tons from Polttimo.1969
3rd Category Beer to grocery stores in Finland.1970
Extension of Seeger Maltings in Lahti, Finland.The first Finnish food industry company to invest abroad. Nord-Malt AB was established, maltings in Söderhamn, Sweden.
1978
Lausmann Maltings built in Lahti, Finland.1979
Oy Maltax Ab was established.1984
Maltax’s new malt extract factory started production.1984
Oy Biofincon Ab was established.1988
Finnish Yeast was established.1989
Roastery built in Lahti, Finland.1993
Finnish Yeast was the only yeast company in Finland after the acquisition of the Rajamäki yeast factory.1993
Polttimo bought AS Saku Linnas, a malting house in Estonia (closed down in 1999).1994
Nordic Yeast was established.Finland and Sweden entered EU.
1995
Nordic Yeast bought 51 % of the shares in Rigas Raugs in Latvia.1995
Polttimo sole owner of Finnish Yeast Ltd.1997
Svenska Malt AB was established, maltings in Halmstad, Sweden.1997
50 % of UAB Litmalt was acquired, maltings in Panevezys, Lithuania. Joint Venture with Svyturys-Utenos Alus (BBH).1998
LP Research Centre was established.1999
Euro introduced as the currency in Finland.1999
Saku Linnas in Estonia was closed down.2002
Viking Malt Oy was established. Maltings in Finland, Sweden and Lithuania.2003
Nordic Yeast sold its shares in Rigas Raugs to its owners Polttimo and Jästbolaget.Investment in new malt houses in Halmstad (Sweden) and Panevezys (Lithuania).
2004
Doubling of malt extract capacity at Maltax.2005
Viking Malt malting house in Söderhamn (former Nord-Malt) closed.2006
Finnish Yeast Ltd sold to Lallemand GmbH.2007
Polttimo sold its shares in Rigas Raugs, Latvia.2007
Polttimo sole owner of Biofincon after acquiring the shares previously owned by ICI.2007
Viking Malt acquired full share capital of UAB Viking Malt (former UAB Litmalt).2008
Polttimo bought Bonafiber Oy.2008
Oy Maltax Ab, Oy Biofincon Ab and LP Research Center merged into Senson Oy.Senson Oy started its operations in January 2009.
2011
Viking Malt bought Raisio Malt.2012
In January the malting house in Raisio was closed down.2013
Polttimo celebrates its 130 year anniversary.2016
Viking Malt doubles its capacity by acquiring Danish Malting Group. Six sites in 5 countries operate under the Viking Malt brand.2017
Polttimo Group uses 1 000 000 tons of maltable grain annually.
