Establishments boost restaurants in Boden

Over 60 entrepreneurs in the food and restaurant industry had signed up for the networking event at Boden Business Park, organized by H2 Green Steel. There, they learned more about the company’s expectations for the next two years and what the industry needs to consider to meet the forthcoming demand.

– We really want to build the steel plant together with local businesses as much as possible. This is a way for us to help them prepare their business for what’s coming,” says Rasmus Kazinczy, Purchasing Manager at H2 Green Steel.

The demand is expected to be greatest within the grocery trade. Experience from other places, such as Skellefteå, shows that the vast majority of people choose to bring cooked food to the construction site. However, Rasmus Kazinczy anticipates that there will also be a certain need for food sales on site. For example through food trucks or similar setups.

Andreas Johansson, store manager at Ica Supermarket in Boden, appreciated the information.

– We are the store closest to the area and this was valuable to us. We now have a perspective on when the construction workers come here and when they go home. This helps us to try to achieve a good balance in the number of goods. It is also very difficult to know which products they want, but we have to be responsive and try to adapt,” he says.

The effect of H2 Green Steel’s establishment is already visible, according to Anders Johansson. They see more customers in the store every day, and he is supported by Ulrika Granström, owner of the Färgaregatan Restaurant.

– The restaurant industry in Sweden is quite tough, but that’s not something we notice in Boden. Instead, we are looking to recruit more staff, which is great,” she says.

Like several other restaurants in the municipality, they are seeing an increased flow of customers. Much thanks to the establishment of the green steel plant, but also within other sectors.

– We generally notice that there are more people who want to dine out. Both staff from H2 Green Steel’s establishment and more military personnel as the defense is also expected to grow even more. There are also more migrants visiting Boden. Even when it has been -39, we have been busy. We have been waiting and charging for this for a long time. Now we just have to accelerate,” says an excited Ulrika Granström.