SOK Corporation is a cooperative under the S Group banner, which is a network of services and trades in the grocery and consumer goods, service station stores and fuel, tourism and hospitality, automobile, and agricultural industries. Formed by Suomen Osuuskauppojen Keskuskunta (SOK) and its subsidiaries, SOK Corporation operates as the central firm for 20 regional and eight local cooperative societies, which are also a part of S Group, and offers support and procurement services to them. S Groups turnover was 11.3 million and it had 4,200 employees in 2013.
S Group applies the chain-operation principle, which combines centralised procurement and local knowledge of cooperatives. This style of business activity highlights the even quality of services, efficient yet customer-friendly shops, and inexpensive prices.
Taavi Heikkilä was appointed as the CEO and chairman of SOK Corporation in January 2014; however, he has been with the company for more than 27 years holding various roles in finance, purchasing, and development. He was formerly the CEO of SOK Corporations second biggest regional cooperative Ok Hämeenmaa, SOKs senior vice president for development, and the CEO of the organisations purchasing company Intrade Partners.
