It is estimated that two thirds of the KHL troughs are made by the Finnish Raita Sport.
Raita Sport, a Finnish manufacturer of hockey sticks and equipment, decided to suspend its business in Russia as soon as the country invaded Ukraine at the end of February.
Managing director Pekka Ahonen says the solution was the right one, even though it was financially difficult.
– It’s a big setback for us. A significant part of the sales will not be received.
Fifth
Ahonen estimates that 20 percent of Raita Sport’s net sales will come from sales to Russia.
According to Ahonen, there were significant offers on the table before the war. They flew to the trash on February 24th.
– Our operations in Russia ended as soon as the state of war began.
Ahonen says that two thirds of the KHL trays are made by Raita Sport.
Termination
Before the war, the company had its own representative council in Russia.
– When the war started, we stopped it and the Russian personnel who were there were fired, Ahonen says.
The sanctions now imposed on Russia will have no effect on the troughs or auditoriums already built.
– That’s where they stay. They are one-off transactions and they are no longer our property, Ahonen says.
Raita Sport says on its website that it has delivered hockey trays to five Olympic Games and to more than 30 World Championship arenas. According to Ahonen, 80 percent of turnover is exported.
In 2020, the company’s turnover was just over EUR 6,100,000.
Raita Sport has supplied troughs for numerous value tournaments. EPA / AOP