Finnish entrepreneur Peter Dörig named Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year 2026

At the National Entrepreneurship Days in Lahti, Suomen Yrittäjät and Fennia presented prestigious national entrepreneurship awards to several Finnish companies.

Peter Dörig, founder of the cheese producer Herkkujuustola, was named the 2026 Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year. Having arrived in Finland in 1996, Dörig established his family business in Mouhijärvi in 2002. The company has contributed to diversifying Finnish cheese culture and provides local employment. Herkkujuustola’s Vilho cheese previously won a gold medal at the 2025 World Cheese Awards in Switzerland.

Other major national awards were granted to CPE Production Oy, a manufacturer of protective equipment for authorities; Normet Group Oy, specializing in underground construction technologies; and SantaPark Arctic World, a company in the tourism sector. The winners were recognized for their courage to innovate, invest in product development, and achieve strong growth.