Navigating Nordic Spirits Tenders with PET Packaging: How Petainer & Saturnus Simplify Your Path to Market

The Nordic spirits market can be highly profitable—yet challenging—due to unique government-run alcohol monopolies in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, plus an open market in Denmark. To secure a place on these coveted shelves, producers must compete in tender processes that require final-format bottles, detailed product specs, and increasing sustainability commitments.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the essentials of the Nordic tender process and show how PET packaging—combined with co-packing services from Saturnus—offers a strategic edge. Whether you’re a seasoned exporter or a craft distiller eyeing Scandinavian expansion, understanding these tenders and the role of eco-friendly packaging is key to winning over Systembolaget, Vinmonopolet, Alko, and beyond.

Overview of the Nordic Alcohol Monopolies

For much of the 20th century, Sweden, Norway, and Finland maintained government monopolies on both alcohol production and retail. While production monopolies ended in the late 1900s, each country still mandates state-run retail:

• Sweden: Systembolaget
• Norway: Vinmonopolet
• Finland: Alko

Meanwhile, Denmark operates under a more open-market model for alcohol sales.

Why Tenders?

Each monopoly uses a tender system to determine which products appear on its shelves. This approach ensures government oversight on alcohol availability, brand selection, and pricing, while also emphasizing social responsibility. Producers compete on quality, price, and increasingly—sustainability.

Country-by-Country Tender Process Breakdown

Sweden (Systembolaget)

• Tender Frequency: 4 times per year
• Timeline: Approximately 8 months from application to product launch

1. Submit tender application and required forms
2. Systembolaget requests a specific number of sample bottles
3. Tasting and analysis
4. Tender results announced

Tip: Have your label design, bottle shape, and packaging materials finalized before you apply, as Systembolaget will specifically request shelf-ready samples.

Finland (Alko)

• Tender Frequency: 3 times per year
• Timeline: Approximately 8 months from application to product launch

1. Submit tender application and required forms
2. Alko reviews offers and selects ~20 for tasting
3. Submit shelf-ready samples (bottled, capped, labelled)
4. Alko conducts tasting to choose the winner
5. Product launches 2–3 months after a successful tender

Tip: Alko’s stringent quality checks include sustainability metrics. Demonstrating a lower carbon footprint may improve your odds of acceptance.

Norway (Vinmonopolet)

• Tender Frequency: 2 times per year
• Timeline: Approximately 8 months from application to product launch

1. Vinmonopolet consults with importers, producers, and sommeliers for next year’s tenders
2. Marketing plan released (in November and June) specifying categories for tender
3. Producers submit their selections
4. Vinmonopolet requests samples, conducts blind tastings, and selects a winner

Tip: Vinmonopolet places a strong emphasis on “Climate Smart Packaging,” making PET a standout option in their selection process.

Sustainability: A Deciding Factor in Nordic Tenders

A key factor driving product selection is sustainability. Sweden, Norway, and Finland’s monopolies share a joint target to reduce the climate impact of their value chain by 50% by 2030 (against a 2019 benchmark). This includes emissions from cultivation, production, transportation—and especially packaging, which is a substantial contributor.

Recognizing that packaging is a major part of a product’s carbon footprint, the monopolies increasingly favor “climate smart” packaging options like PET. This shift can present a challenge if you’re used to glass-only bottling, but it also opens a strategic advantage if you can demonstrate lower emissions through PET.

PET Packaging by Petainer: Meeting Spirit Producers’ Needs

Petainer’s PET Plastic Spirit Bottles are designed to help producers meet sustainability demands without compromising on branding or quality. Our range covers three key sizes—350ml, 500ml, and 700ml—ideal for most spirit categories. Key advantages include:

• Brand Integrity: High-clarity PET maintains a premium look, suitable for everything from gin to aquavit.
• Lightweight: A 350ml PET bottle weighs just 24g, compared to around 200g for its glass equivalent.
• Strength & Safety: PET is shatter-resistant, ensuring safety throughout the supply chain.
• Lower Manufacturing Emissions: Producing PET requires significantly lower heat and energy than melting and shaping glass.
• Cost-Efficiency: Reduced transport costs and fewer breakage risks can lower overall operating expenses.

Acceptance of wines and spirits in PET in the Nordics has always been high, both for the sustainability benefits but also for producers where PET can be more cost effective. Saturnus fill for our clients in bespoke or off the shelf bottle designs to give their products great shelf stand out and a premium look which is important in the spirits category.

Why PET Gains Favor with the Monopolies

Thanks to their mutual climate goals, Systembolaget, Vinmonopolet, and Alko increasingly encourage PET-based spirits—sometimes referred to as “Climate Smart Packaging.” Opting for PET can provide a competitive advantage during the tender review process.

Saturnus: Your Co-Packing Partner in Sweden

Shifting to a new packaging format can be a considerable investment—especially if you need a dedicated PET bottling line. That’s where Saturnus comes in.

Who is Saturnus?

Saturnus is a fifth-generation, family-owned beverage company based in Malmö. Founded in 1893, Saturnus is Sweden’s oldest and largest producer of snaps, aquavit, and mulled wine. In addition to producing their own brands and co-packing for others, Saturnus also imports well-known international brands such as Evian, Aqua d’Or, and Britvic.

Their New PET Filling Line

Saturnus recently installed a dedicated PET bottling line, allowing them to fill both bespoke and off-the-shelf PET bottles to meet precise tender requirements. This new capability means:

• Reduced Upfront Costs: No immediate need for your own PET infrastructure.
• Faster Market Entry: Submit tenders with final-format PET bottles without major capital investments.
• Brand Customization: Saturnus can replicate your label designs and bottle shapes for a premium shelf presence.

We see a future for PET as well as glass as formats for spirit products due to Systembolaget’s and the other Nordic monopolies work towards new packaging formats. We believe that glass and PET will complement each other as packaging formats. Both formats have different characteristics and benefits that consumers seek. Saturnus has recently invested in a new filling line which enables Saturnus to bottle spirit products in PET. This together with our filling lines for glass offers a good variety of packaging solutions for our customers.

Ready to Secure Your Spot on Nordic Shelves?

With growing focus on sustainability—and a high acceptance of PET as a “Climate Smart Packaging” solution—now is an ideal time to explore PET bottling. Petainer and Saturnus stand ready to help you make the transition seamlessly, whether you aim to tender in Sweden, Finland, Norway, or beyond.

If you’d like more information on co-packing or filling services, or want to explore our PET bottle range, get in touch with Petainer or reach out to Saturnus. We look forward to helping you bring your spirits to Nordic shelves—sustainably and in style.