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Ikikivi spreads the positive message of stone

10.1.2025

Nilsiä-based Ikikivi Oy is an example of how a family business can thrive and adapt to an ever-changing market. The company operates throughout Finland, but all the stone material used in its products comes from the region of North Savo.

Ikikivi’s commitment to quality, customer service and environmental responsibility makes the business a respected player in the stone industry. The history of the quarry used by the company dates back to the 1930s, when peasants used the stone from the quarry to make fireplaces and stoves.

Ikikivi’s CEO Katja Huhta’s father bought the quarry from Lohja Rudus when it was put up for sale in 1980. The company was later sold to another firm, but the quarry was bought back after the firm went bankrupt.

“I’ve been working as a second-generation stone entrepreneur since 1999. My spouse Tom Huhta has also been involved in the business already for 22 years,” says Katja Huhta.

Investing little by little

The product catalogue of Ikikivi includes building and decorative stores and yard stone products. The company uses 100% of the slate it extracts from the quarry. In 2017, Ikikivi also started making granite products from the waste material from stone quarries and stone carving workshops.

“With the help of hydraulic presses, we can turn the waste rock into products with a cleavage surface, such as small and rectangular setts, which are used in paving. They provide the basis for our Ekograniitti product line,” says Tom Huhta.

Slate cannot be processed in subzero temperatures, so Ekograniitti plays a big role in keeping staff busy during the winter months. Ikikivi is currently making a major investment with the aim of extending the 8-month production season to 10 months.

“As a small company, we have to make investments little by little. We want to keep our feet firmly on the ground and not ask for the moon,” says Katja Huhta.

Appreciation for delivery reliability

When asked about the secret to Ikikivi’s success, Tom Huhta points to the company’s reputation for delivery reliability. The stones delivered by Ikikivi are always on site at the right time, in the right quantities. Yard builders appreciate this.

“I’ve been working with various types of productions for 35 years and with Ikikivi for 22 years, and in that time, we’ve never once been late in dispatching orders,” says Tom Huhta.

One of the highlights of the company was when two major projects, the head office of Biolan Oy and Scandic Vierumäki, were completed at the same time. The only downside was that both sites also held their opening ceremonies on the same day.

Laughing, Tom Huhta says that sometimes a whole year can go by without any invitations to openings, and when they do come, they just happen to be on the same day.

Locally sourced stones from North Savo

Ikikivi’s slate material is from the company’s own quarry in Nilsiä and the granite material comes from within a radius of about 40 kilometres, which is why the entrepreneurs call these locally sourced stones. They believe that embracing a circular economy mindset is worth the effort. The trend for ecological products is so strong that it is unlikely that the train will reverse course.

“We are confident that low-emission products, such as stone, will one day be even more valuable than they are today,” says Tom Huhta.

Spreading the positive message of stone is a matter close to Ikikivi’s heart. You have to be passionate about what you do and share this passion with your customers. That’s how you get results, says Katja Huhta.

Ikikivi’s webpage (in Finnish)

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According to Ikikivi’s CEO Katja Huhta, networking within the industry is important. One company does not have to be able to do everything, but you do need to find the right allies who you can turn to if you have any problems. It is also important to share your knowledge with designers, because construction starts with the design.

Ikikivi often uses its networks in North Savo for transport and installation. The company’s products have been used, for example, at various locations in Tahko, including the Panorama Landscape Hotel built on top of Tahko Mountain. They can also be found in the Joutsenpuisto Art Park at Bella Lake Resort. In addition, the City of Kuopio and Mestar Kuopio Oy frequently use Ikikivi products.

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Text: Minna Akiola
Photos: Ikikivi