When Anniina Morelius joined Foodello–Fiksuruoka in 2022, we were at a very different stage than today. At the time, expansion to the Netherlands had just started, and life was normalizing after the pandemic. The company was smaller, the structures were still evolving, and many things were being built at the same time. First, Anniina started as a Procurement Manager, and in 2026, she took on a new role as Head of Procurement (FI). What was it like to hop on board in 2022, and what has Anniina learned over the years? What still keeps her fighting against the food waste?
When Anniina Morelius joined us as Procurement Manager in 2022, she was still finishing her studies at university and figuring out what her next step would look like. At the time, she had two different options on the table.
“One option would have allowed me to focus fully on finishing my studies in Industrial and Engineering Management quickly. The other was this Procurement Manager role, where I would be working and studying at the same time,” she says.
We had already caught her attention earlier, partly through people she knew. “I had heard good things and knew a few people working there. It felt like an interesting place where I could actually learn by doing.”
In the end, Anniina’s decision came down to choosing between a more straightforward path and something less certain, but more exciting: “I decided to go for the option where I could challenge myself more and gain real experience at the same time.”
At the same time, our business was going through an interesting phase. Our team was still relatively small, our only office was in Espoo, Otaniemi, and we were starting our international expansion to the Netherlands. The first hires in the Netherlands had been made, and the market was just opening.
“It felt like a really exciting moment to join. A lot was happening, which brought so many learning opportunities”, Anniina remembers.
Anniina’s role as a Procurement Manager didn’t stay the same for long.
Over the years, her responsibilities grew alongside company growth, from daily procurement work to broader development and cross-functional collaboration.
“The role has changed a lot. In the beginning, it was more about learning the basics and getting comfortable with the day-to-day work. Over time, it became more about developing things, making decisions, and thinking about the bigger picture”, she explains.
Anniina has worked across nearly all product categories, building supplier relationships across a wide range of partners. “That’s been one of the most rewarding parts of the role: working closely with suppliers and finding deals that create value for everyone. It’s a true win-win-win: suppliers reduce waste, we get products to our store, and customers get access to affordable surplus food.”
One of the defining aspects of her journey has been stepping into projects outside the core role. She was involved in piloting our physical stores in Raisio and later in building our first-ever physical store in Espoo that opened in 2025.
These experiences taught her how to operate in change. “You learn to navigate uncertainty, adapt quickly, and build processes that actually work in practice. You don’t have to have all the answers, but you need to rely on what you’ve learned before and figure things out as you go. Those are skills that stay with you”, Anniina says.
In early 2026, Anniina stepped into the role of Head of Procurement (Finland), and it brought a clear shift in focus.
“The biggest change has been moving from focusing on my own work to focusing on the team and the bigger picture. It’s less about doing everything yourself and more about enabling others to succeed”, she says.
Today, her role includes:
In practice, it means balancing multiple perspectives at once. “You need to think about results, people, and long-term development at the same time. That’s probably the most challenging and also the most rewarding part”, she says.
“You realise quite quickly that you don’t need to give all the answers. It’s more about creating clarity, building trust, and making sure the team can move forward.”
The team lead role has also brought new learnings. “You realise quite quickly that you don’t need to give all the answers. It’s more about creating clarity, building trust, and making sure the team can move forward”, Anniina sums up.
When asked what skills have been most important in her role, Anniina doesn’t point to just one: “It’s a combination of things. You need to be analytical and comfortable working with data, but at the same time, you need strong communication skills.”
Working in procurement means constantly collaborating across external stakeholders and different teams.
“You’re working with suppliers, logistics, marketing, and many other teams. So being able to communicate clearly and understand different perspectives is really important”, she says.
In a growing company where things change fast, and testing is at the core of ways of working, prioritisation is also one of the key skills.
“There are always more things you could do than you actually have time for. So learning to focus on what really matters is essential”, Anniina says.
What about a mindset?
“You need to be curious and proactive. Things don’t come to you automatically, you have to be willing to ask questions, take initiative, and step into new situations”, she says.
She also highlights the importance of being comfortable with uncertainty.
“In a growing company, things change all the time. If you’re looking for a completely stable and predictable environment, this might not be the right place. But if you enjoy learning and adapting, it can be really rewarding”, she highlights.
Over these four years, there have been many moments that stand out. “The projects we’ve done together as a team are definitely highlights. Especially the ones where you start from something quite unclear and then build it into something that actually works.”
At the same time, growth hasn’t always been easy. “There have been moments where things feel uncertain or unclear. But those are usually the situations where you learn the most.”
For Anniina, one of the biggest lessons has been learning to trust the process. “You don’t need to have everything figured out from the start. What matters is that you move forward, learn, and improve along the way.”
At one point, Anniina also found herself thinking about what the next step could look like.
“I was very happy that I got to take on extra projects alongside my procurement tasks that fueled my curiosity and hunger to learn more. And now that I just transitioned into this new role, I could not be happier about my decision to see what Foodello–Fiksuruoka still has to offer to me”, she says.
So what has made her stay? For her, it comes down to three things:
1. The people and the culture: “The team here makes a huge difference. There’s a strong sense of trust, and I love the humor we share in the office.
2. Interesting and meaningful work: “The work itself is really engaging. First of all, you get to solve real problems and see the impact of what you do. But also the problems you solve vary a lot, so there is always something new to learn that keeps the work motivating.”
3. Balance and sustainability: “It’s also important that work fits into the rest of your life. That balance has been something I’ve really appreciated.”
Even after several years fighting against food waste, Anniina doesn’t feel like she’s “done”.
“I still feel like there’s more to learn. The role keeps evolving, and so do I”, she says.
For her, growth hasn’t been about following a predefined path. “It’s been more about being open to opportunities, taking on challenges, and seeing where that leads.”
If you’re considering a career in procurement, or in a growing company like us, Anniina has a clear message: “Be curious and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. You don’t need to know everything in advance. If you’re willing to learn, take responsibility, and get involved, you can grow a lot faster than you might expect.” 💚