Metsä Group has signed the first agreements for wood harvesting and transport services in accordance with its renewed contracting entrepreneur model. The aim of the new model is to strengthen the role of Metsä Group’s contracting entrepreneurs, standardize operating practices nationwide, and improve the efficiency of the entire supply chain.
Under the new operating model, the number of Metsä Group’s harvesting and transport partners will decrease from approximately 250 entrepreneurs to fewer than 100. As a result, the size of individual contracts will increase significantly. The objective is to create even stronger contract partners with improved capabilities to manage their operations, develop their expertise, and meet growing quality and safety requirements. In the future, Metsä Group will focus, as the client, on setting targets, monitoring operations, and ensuring quality. The role of entrepreneurs in operational planning and management will increase.
“In the new operating model, we are moving toward an even clearer client–supplier model, where Metsä Group manages contract companies as entities rather than focusing on individual machines or transport operations,” says Ilkka Köntti, SVP Production, Wood Procurement and Forest Services at Metsä Group.
“We want to enable our contracting entrepreneurs to develop their business in a long-term manner. Our new operating model supports entrepreneurs in managing their operations more holistically. Larger contract entities and better visibility into future workload needs provide entrepreneurs with improved conditions for planning their operations and investments.”
Metsä Group announced its plans to update the operating model in October 2025 and sent a survey to its contracting entrepreneurs regarding their willingness to develop their operations in line with the new model. Based on the responses, contract negotiations have continued. The negotiations have progressed according to the planned schedule, and the aim is to complete all contracts under the new model by summer 2027.
“The majority of our existing contracting entrepreneurs will continue the well-established cooperation with us, either as contracting entrepreneurs or as subcontractors to another entrepreneur. Our harvesting and transport operations will continue to benefit from strong local knowledge and regional expertise,” Köntti states.