Young fashion and jeans specialist Carlings recruits a new CEO, Ronny Mikalsen succeeds veteran Rune Martinsen. (more…)
Archive | Norway
Polarn O Pyret leaves China and Holland – targets Finland and Norway
Polarn O. Pyret has today taken the decision to close the smaller and unprofitable operations in the Netherlands and China and to expand the number of stores in Finland and Norway. “The net number of stores will increase over the next 15 months, ” says Magnus Håkansson, President and CEO of RNB. (more…)
Synsam to open 100 stores with new concept
Optician chain Synsam is investing in a new business in optics and sports glasses. Synsam Sports will offer personalized glasses, specialized for 18 different sports. The new chain will be established in about 100 Nordic locations. The first store opens at Sankt Eriksplan in Stockholm on 18 April. (more…)
Varner Group set to open new chain for women
Varner Group’s new fashion chain for women, Days like this, open the doors to eleven stores next week. Cubus and Bik Bok is already specifically targeted at women, but now the Norwegian fashion group further such a chain in his portfolio with 11 new stores + online sales already this month. ”Days Like This is a […]
Bygghemma goes for exclusive payment solution
Bygghemma has extended its partnership with payments company Svea Ekonomi and now gives them exclusivity for payment solutions in Sweden, Norway and Finland, with the intention of eventually expanding to additional countries. “For us it is important to have a full partner, Svea Ekonomi is flexible and committed and relieve us in our work. Anything […]
Jula to follow up customer loyalty program success with pro-club
Jula’s customer club, JulaClub, has now reached 2 million members. “It’s fantastic! 2 million JulaClub members is a proof that we have many dedicated customers. JulaClub is an extremely important key role in our endeavors to always meet the customer in the right way, “says Joachim Frykberg, CEO of Jula AB. (more…)

Per Thelin leaves Stockmann
With a new Chairman, the turnaround specialist Per Thelin leaves his position as Stockmann’s CEO only 17 months after he took the job. ”The agreed strategic actions – in particular the divestments of Russian department stores and Seppälä – have been carried out as planned. The company structure consisting of Stockmann Retail, Real Estate and Lindex has been […]
ÖoB seeks new neighbors
Erikslund shopping area in västerås is one of Sweden’s largest, but also has many vacant premises. Now discount operator ÖoB changes neighbor from Elgiganten to Jula and Willy. “We know that we complement each other,” says ÖoB’s establishment director Josef Sommarkrans. (more…)
ABC-chain gets local customization concept
The ABC chain is renewed, after about 20 service station stores begin to run their operations under the name Lähi ABC! with services targeted primarily to local customers, who are offered easy shopping eating, refueling and continuing connection with the purchase. The rebranded stations are located mainly in urban areas. (more…)

35 stores to be shut down in crisis strategy
Venue Retail Group, with brands like Accent, Rizzo and Morris, cuts deep in the business, 35 stores will be closed and the owners must add 132 million SEK. (more…)

Despite weaker currency – border trade boosted again
The border trade does not suffer from a weaker Norwegian currency. In Charlottenberg the retail trade has so far this year increased by over 20 percent. “When the Norwegian krone is weakened imported goods gets more expensive in Norway. Norwegian traders have raised prices a lot, especially on food, “says Lars Erik Eröy, center manager […]
Vipps to be launched for in-store payments this summer
DNB, Nets and Verifone has now signed an agreement that allows Norwegians to pay with contactless mobile payment solutions in store. Before summer, Nets launches a solution for its payment terminals that open up for the use of mobile payment services. Vipps, with 1.2 million users, will be the first service that can be used. (more…)
ICA to set up Inkclub for sale?
ICA Group reviews its ownership in inkClub. ”Going forward we see limited synergies with our core business, says Liv Forhaug, Chief Strategy Officer, ICA Group. (more…)

Clas Ohlson sets new record – ready for Germany opening
Clas Ohlson’s sales increased by 8 percent in February and 7 percent in local currencies during its third financial quarter. The weak Norwegian currency remains a challenge. CEO Klas Balkow is looking forward to opening in Germany this spring. (more…)
New Competition Authority director to investigate information flow between chains in Norway
The new Director of the Norwegian Competition Authority, Lars Sørgard, want new, small scale challengers in the Norwegian consumables market. Together with industry minister Monica Mæland he will investigate the barriers to entry that exist in the Norwegian grocery market and what can be done with these. (more…)
Gina Tricot and Moods of Norway the biggest losers in 2015
The impact of a weaker Norwegian currency leaves its marks on Norwegian fashion industry. Moods of Norway and GinaTricot got the biggest downturn among the major players in the Norwegian fashion sector last year. (more…)
Kiwi makes Kiwi+ official
Danish KIWI is now rolling out the extra large discount stores. The offensive kicks off with the launch of the name KIWI + and with the opening of the fifth bigger store, this time in Frederikshavn. (more…)
Stockmann lost sales in February
Despite an extra day in February, Stockmann’s sales were down by 2.9 percent in February. Lindex grew by 3.2 percent. (more…)
Citycon to have 75 % of all shopping centers certified
Citycon has launched an extensive project to introduce BREAAM In-Use certification for its shopping centres. So far, a total of 16 shopping centres owned by Citycon and four managed by the company have been granted the BREEAM In-Use certificate. Of these, eight are located in Norway, four in Finland, three in Sweden and one in […]
Odd Reitan: ”We’re having fun”
Reitangruppen is more solid than ever. Total turnover in 2015 was 85.6 billion NOK, an increase of 4 billion from 2014. ”Thanks to talented people with strong values and aspirations we have never been better prepared for the future,” says Colonial Major Odd Reitan. (more…)
Tools to be completely cash free
Ten stores do fine without any cash in the stores. Now all 43 Norwegian Tools-stores will be completely cash free. ”We believe the time is right and the market is ready for cashless stores,” says CEO Jens Kristian Henriksen. (more…)
Qliro-CEO: Adlibris to replace Cdon’s booksales
Adlibris, the leading Nordic online bookstore, has agreed on a partnership with Cdon to sell books via Cdon Marketplace. In connection with the launch of Adlibris as a new marketplace merchant, Cdon will phase out its own assortment of books and instead sell Adlibris’s assortment through the marketplace. (more…)

Boom for pet food home deliveries
Home delivery of food growing in Norway. Now even the pets will get the same service. Two start-ups are focusing on delivering animal food to people’s doors. (more…)
Boomerang targets Norway
40-year-old fashion brand Boomerang is investing heavily in a new approach, new stores and new markets. New contracts have been signed in China and Norway. (more…)
Qliro recruits new CEO from Dustin
Qliro Group has found its successor to Paul Fischbein. Marcus Lindqvist has been appointed CEO and assumes his new role in August 2016 at the latest. His most recent role was Head of B2B Sweden & Products at Dustin. Prior to Dustin, he served as Country Manager for Sweden at Hewlett Packard’s PC division, as well […]

He is recruited to lift Indiska’s online sales
Crisis chain Indiska makes an effort to increase the company’s e-commerce. Now the fashion company recruits Niclas Hemminger from Consortio Fashion Group as Head of Indiska’s online expansion. (more…)

Ikea lost appeal against Norwegian tax authorities
Ikea Norway came one step closer a juicy tax backlash after losing also in the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal agreed with the Norwegian tax authorities that the way Ikea sold properties to themselves in 2007 was “unreasonable and unnatural.” (more…)

XXL to enter Denmark and change management
XXL targets Denmark. In the first phase – only online. ”We need to market ourselves heavily to be visible in Denmark. But we cannot be market leaders in a country with only an online store, so therefore we need consider Danish department stores too,” said CEO Fredrik Steenbuch at the presentation of XXL:s financial report. […]
She is Kicks’ new Nordic marketing director
Cosmetics chain Kicks recruits Gina Azaric as Nordic Director of Brand, Marketing and E-commerce. (more…)
New buildingware CEO a one-year-solution
DT Group, the largest buildingware retail actor in the Nordics, has a new President, the Stark-CEO Søren P Olesen. But only for the next 12 months. “As Søren P. Olesen must hold two major CEO positions over the next year, our owner Wolseley will wait before they make the position permanent,” says CFO Søren Strøm. (more…)

XXL to enter Austria next year
XXL is ready for new markets. Most likely with an establishment in Austria next year. But the sporting goods chain also looks at full coverage in the Nordic region. “XXL has mapped the Danish market,” says CEO Fredrik Steenbuch. (more…)
She will run two electronics chains towards IPO
The consolidation of electronics chains Siba and Netonnet took another step today. NetOnNet CEO Harald Ennen has to leave both his CEO positions as chain-CEO and Group CEO and is replaced by Siba’s CEO Susanne Ehnbåge. (more…)

Clas Ohlson suffers from Norwegian currency
Clas Ohlson increased its sales in local currencies in January by 3 percent, all Nordic markets shows a positive development but Norwegian currency results in a total decrease of sales. (more…)
Citycon expands organisation with eight new employees
After the acquisition of the Norwegian Sektor in July 2015 Citycon is now announcing that it employs eight people, including three operation engineers and a property technician in order to build its own operating organization. In addition, Citycon strengthens its Swedish organization with four specialists, all based in Kista. Joel Bjerking, formerly JLL, has been appointed […]
Orkla to close down half of all factories
It’s not just the chips factory in Åland that is in danger. Orkla wants to half the number of its 104 factories. (more…)

Citycon grew with Sektor-aquisition during 2015
Nordic shopping center giant Citycon’s revenues increased significantly during 2015 after the aquisition of Norwegian Sektor. Like-for-like, the net rental income increased by 1.1 percent. Sweden and Norway were the strongest markets. (more…)

Private label increase kills Rema 1000’s growth
Rema 1000’s focus on their own brands interferes with the targeted speed of growth. Sales and market shares have been standing still over the past year, according to recent figures from Nielsen. (more…)
Jula to open four Norwegian stores – and number eight in Stockholm
Jula’s rapid expansion in Norway continues. During spring opens Jula all four new stores in the Norwegian market. ”Jula in Norway is one long success story since the first store opened in 2008. The establishment rate is still high and we still see more potential,” says Per Jacobsen, CEO of Jula Norway. (more…)
Good end of 2015 for Electra Group – but decreasing profit
The Swedish Electra Group, which recently expanded its commitment in Norway and Denmark, declined both in sales and earnings in 2015. At the same time it gains market shares mainly via the Audio Video chain. (more…)

Volt recruits country manager from Stockmann
The Varner Group’s young menswear fashion chain Volt has appointed new country managers in Sweden and Finland. For the premiere in Finland this year, Volt has recruited Erika Ahlberg from Stockmann. (more…)
Skousen’s franchisees makes a million profit a year
Attractive margins make many Nordic actors look at the appliances category. Recent year has seen several start ups and expansion. The Danish chain Skousen went from a problem child to a win-win situation. (more…)
Gustaf Öhrn new CEO of Åhlens
Stadium’s former CEO, Gustaf Öhrn, has been recruited as the new CEO of department store chain Åhléns. “It will be extremely exciting to be on the trip to take a strong brand like Åhlens into a new phase,” says Gustaf Öhrn. (more…)
Statoil to open their last petrol station
Statoil Fuel and retail will change all petrol station signs in Scandinavian to Circle K in May. But parallel to the huge brand change, new Statoil stations are inaugurated. This week is the official opening of the latest – and last – newly Statoil petrol station in Norway. (more…)

”An Orkla closure would be a disaster for our society”
Nordic food giant Orkla has caused great concern in Åland – by initiating negotiations with all workers in Åland where the chips factory is of great importance for business. The reason is that Orkla has several chips factories with comparable technology and wants to analyze the structure of the company. “It would be a disaster for the […]
Kiwi the biggest loser as 75 Norwegian in-store post offices change operators
Norway Post has signed 845 new agreements with Post i butikk/In-store post offices. 75 of them means a change of operating stores. A majority of them are switching location from Kiwi. (more…)

Swedish buildingware online specialist happy with Norway
The online specialist Skånska Byggvaror is growing with physical stores. 2015 was the most succesful year in the company’s history. “What is particular pleasing is that our Norwegian initiative is delivering such strong results, giving us the stamina to both continue our efforts in Norway and expand in Denmark through the acquisition of Pavillon,” says […]

Lindex to use customers as underwear models
The past two years Lindex has involved employees as models for the Bra-volution campaigns. This year, they asked the customers to be underwear models. 6 women out of 700 applicants was chosen. (more…)

Indiska’s reconstruction arrangement approved by creditors
Indiska’s debts will be written down substantially. “Creditors approve a reconstruction,” the lawyer Kent Hägglund tells Market.se. (more…)

Clas Ohlson to expand home interior range –and open more Norwegian stores
Clas Ohlson further expands in Norway and opens new stores at Amfi Finnsnes, Voss and Maxi Sandnes. The shops all have planned opening before summer 2016. At the same time a new product range is announced for the Nordic markets where the higher price level products won’t be available in stock in store. (more…)

Fashion chain Wagner set for expansion
The Danish fashion Group PWT’s turnover increased to 858 million DKK from 853 million, and operating profit amounted to 84 million (85). Net profit amounted to 24 million DKK (37). After the launch in Sweden – PWT is set for a chinese expansion. (more…)