Our story

Dare to Dream!

All important things will grow and improve in 50 years: love, joy of life, longing for beauty, and handicraft skills. On the other hand, if a journey lasts half a century, there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way. Manufacturing ceramics has not always been easy, but it goes with the territory. Let's enjoy the second half of our century together and leave something beautiful for future generations.

 

1970s: Working hard in the basement

1971

Pentik founded in February

1973

Work at ceramic workshop underway, new studio and showroom completed

1974

World’s northernmost ceramic factory inaugurated

1976

First store opened on Pohjois-Esplanadi in Helsinki, Finland
Hiisikuppi (Pixie mug) by Peter Winquist becomes a bestseller
Distribution outwith Posio enhanced
Leather garment factory completed

1980s: Tableware and leathers - a successful combination

1982

Posio ceramic factory extended

1985

Artzan furniture brand launched

1986

Visitor attractions opened in Ranua and Pello
Pentik awarded the national Entrepreneur of the Year award


1989

Pentik pavilion opens in Kuusankoski

1990s: Sincerity pays off

1990

Artzan furniture factory and leather garment production wound down

1992 - 1995

Pentik stores launched

1996

Pentik becomes a limited company

1997


Pentik Centre in Posio launched as a visitor attraction

2000s: Change of generation

2003

Awarded the Finnish Ministry of Labour Good Employer award

2004

Management handed over to the younger generation

2005

Anu Pentik exhibition at the Retretti Art Centre

2006

New logistics centre completed in Posio

2007

Pentik is Company of the Year
The Pentik Group (Pentik Oy and franchise stores) employ a staff of over 300 and the company reports a turnover of €31m

2009

Anu Pentik Gallery opens

2011

Pentik turns 40 years
40 years anniversary retrospective exhibition at the Pentik-mäki Cultural Centre
The exhibition showcases the company's history and products from 1971 to the present. 

2012

Anu Pentik receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Lapland.

2013

Anu Pentik awarded Pro Arte Lapponiae medal by the Arts Council of Lapland. First Pentik store opens in St. Petersburg, Russia.

2014

Anu Pentik awarded Pro Finlandia medal

2016

Pentik celebrates 45 years
Pentik's turnover ca. 30 million euros, and the company employes a staff of 300
Pentik store opens in Prague 

2017

Three Rooms exhibition in Helsinki Kunsthalle highlighted Anu Pentik (b. 1942) as an artist and celebrates her long career in the centre of Finnish ceramics
Pentik store opens in Utrecht, the Netherlands

2019

Riikka Wulff becomes the first CEO from outside the Pentikäinen family in August 2019
The company’s management team fully reforms between 2019 and 2020

2020s: Sustainable development steers business

2020

The Pentik-mäki Cultural Centre located in Posio receives Green Key and Sustainable Travel Finland labels in 2020 as a display of valuable and persevering work for sustainable travel

2021

Pentik celebrates its 50-year journey
The anniversary of this family business is also Anu Pentik’s art anniversary, which will culminate in June with In the Beginning There Was a Seed exhibition in WAM Turku City Art Museum