As summer draws to a close, so does the 2026 Huhtamaki Headquarters Summer Trainee Program in Espoo, Finland. Over the past few months, our 22 trainees have worked across communications, finance, HR, legal, sustainability and strategy, learning about different parts of Huhtamaki.
For many, the experience broadened their perception of Huhtamaki. Working alongside people from different functions and locations while learning more about Huhtamaki’s operations gave them a deeper understanding of the global nature of the business.
“I was surprised by the scale of the company. I did not realize before that Huhtamaki is operating so globally, and that most of our operations are outside of Finland,” says Ville Säkkinen, Material Innovation Trainee in the Foodservice segment.
Kaarina Harkonmäki, Executive Assistant Trainee, shared a similar view.
“Working in such an international company has given me a new appreciation for how efficiently the company follows global developments and emerging trends, and how quickly these are reflected in its operations and decision-making,” she says.
The trainees were given meaningful responsibilities and the chance to take ownership of a project. Ville, for example, independently planned and carried out a research project on molded fibers, with his findings contributing to Huhtamaki’s R&D work. For Eva Urankar, Reporting, Analytics & AI Trainee, the summer also helped her discover an area she could see herself working in after graduation.
“I’m proud that I was able to take initiative and contribute beyond my role. This summer also helped me realize that I genuinely enjoy working in data, analytics and AI,” Eva says.
The experience went beyond the office, too. During the summer, the trainees had the chance to visit Huhtamaki’s Foodservice site in Hämeenlinna. An experience like this gave trainees the opportunity to connect their work to the wider business. For many, the visit was one of the highlights of the summer.
“Seeing Huhtamaki products being manufactured in my home country, while realizing that countless more are produced at sites around the world, truly brought the company’s global reach to life,” Kaarina says.
During the summer, the trainees also had the opportunity to have lunch with Huhtamaki President and CEO Ralf K. Wunderlich, discussing their experiences and learning more about the business. They also competed in a friendly foosball tournament with colleagues from headquarters. For Ville, one of the memories from the summer that will stay with him is playing together with Ralf.
Looking ahead to future summer trainees, many highlighted curiosity and building relationships with colleagues as key contributors for a rewarding experience.
“My advice to future Huhtamaki trainees would be to stay curious. Take the initiative to connect with your colleagues, learn about their work, and draw inspiration from their experiences and expertise,” Kaarina says.
Eva agrees and encourages future trainees not to overlook the social side of the experience.
“Say yes to opportunities, go to lunch with people and get to know colleagues from different teams. Some of the valuable things you’ll gain won’t come from the tasks themselves, but from the people you meet and the conversations you have along the way.”
Thank you to all our 2026 Summer Trainees for their enthusiasm and contributions throughout the summer. We wish them all the best in their studies and future careers!