Nordics

Focus

Nordics

Capital Denmark: Kopenhagen | Area: 43.100 km² |
Population (2024): 5.961 mio | GDP (2024): € 396.35 bn

Capital Sweden: Stockholm | Area: 447.400 km² |
Population (2024): 10.588 mio | GDP (2024): € 563.58 bn

Capital Norway: Oslo| Area: 385.200 km² |
Population (2024): 5.585 mio | GDP (2024): € 447.17 bn

Capital Finland: Helsinki | Area: 338.400 km² |
Population (2024): 5.604 mio | GDP (2024): € 276.25 bn

Capital Iceland: Reykjavik | Area: 103.000 km² |
Population (2024): 384 k | GDP (2024): € 30.49 bn

Finnish retail group

Kesko grows through acquisitions in Denmark

The Finnish Kesko Group's building and home improvement trade division achieved growth of 11.0 per cent in the first half of the year, with net sales of EUR 1.2114 bn. This increase is attributable to acquisitions. …

Distribution12. August 2025

Second quarter

Byggmax sales rise by 5.6 per cent

Swedish DIY chain Byggmax closed the second quarter with a 5.6 per cent increase in sales compared with the same period last year. Net sales …

Distribution11. July 2025

20 new tools and garden equipment

Clas Ohlson relaunches its own battery platform

Swedish retail chain Clas Ohlson is relaunching its own battery platform, Cocraft LXC, with a completely new range of 20 new …

Distribution4. March 2025

Like-for-like sales up 7 per cent

Clas Ohlson reports 15 per cent increase after three quarters

In the first three quarters of its 2024/2025 financial year - i.e. from May 2024 to January 2025 - Clas Ohlson …

Distribution7. February 2025

Fourth quarter up 7.6 per cent

Byggmax turnover falls by 2.1 per cent in 2024

The Swedish DIY group Byggmax closed the past financial year 2024 with a 2.1 per cent decline in sales. Like-for-like sales fell by 2…

Distribution3. February 2025

New openings

Clas Ohlson's 100th store in Sweden – and soon in Norway too

Clas Ohlson has opened its 100th store in its home country of Sweden. The Swedish retailer also wants to reach the …

Distribution20. September 2024

Swedish retailer

Clas Ohlson reports double-digit growth from May to July

Swedish retailer Clas Ohlson achieved double-digit growth in the first quarter of its fiscal year 2024/2025, i.e. from May …

Distribution8. August 2024

New country manager

Rusta opens sourcing office in Turkey

Swedish hard discounter Rusta opens a new sourcing office in Istanbul, Turkey, to further develop and control sourcing activities in …

Distribution25. June 2024

Scandinavia

Clas Ohlson sales increase by 17 per cent in April

Sales by Clas Ohlson in April, excluding the acquired Spares Group, increased by 17 per cent to SEK 714 mio. (approx. EUR 60.68 …

Distribution8. May 2024

Centre of Oslo

Clas Ohlson’s second largest store in Norway is open

Clas Ohlson opened its second largest store in Norway last week. The store has 1 606 m² of retail space on two floors. It is …

Distribution16. April 2024

Third quarter

Clas Ohlson grows by 9 per cent

In the third quarter (November 2023 to January 2024) of its 2023/2024 financial year, the Swedish retail group Clas Ohlson increased its sales by 9 …

Distribution11. March 2024

13 new openings

Clas Ohlson increases the planned number for 2024

Swedish retailer Clas Ohlson has announced three more planned openings for 2024, bringing the total to 13, including a store in …

Distribution22. January 2024

Plus 11 per cent

Clas Ohlson’s sales increase in December

Clas Ohlson's sales in December 2023 have increaed by 11 per cent to SEK 1,366 Mio. (ca. EUR 122 Mio). In the previous year the sales …

Distribution9. January 2024

Renovated existing building

Bauhaus Stockholm-Bromma reopens after relocation

Bauhaus in Stockholm's Bromma district has reopened after relocating to premises in the former Bromma Valsverket industrial comple…

Distribution11. December 2023

First six months

Clas Ohlson increases sales by 10 per cent

The Swedish retail chain Clas Ohlson has reported an 8 per cent increase in sales in the first six months of its 2023/2024 financial year…

Distribution7. November 2023

Accessories and spare parts for electronic products

Clas Ohlson acquires Spares

Swedish retail chain Clas Ohlson acquires Spares, a leading company within spare parts and accessories for electronics as well as batteries. This week, …

Distribution6. October 2023

Swedish hard discounter

Rusta wants to go public

The Swedish hard discounter Rusta wants to go public. The aim is to list on Nasdaq Stockholm before the end of the year. The company operates 202 stores in…

Distribution28. September 2023

Reaction to increased costs

More Swedes want to carry out construction and renovation projects themselves

For the fifth year in a row, Byggmax has published its annual survey by Kantar Sifo, which reveals …

Distribution16. August 2023

May to July

Clas Ohlson increases quarterly sales by 7 per cent

Following double-digit growth in July, Swedish retail group Clas Ohlson has closed the first quarter of its 2023/2024 financial …

Distribution8. August 2023

First in the Nordics

Clas Ohlson now sells Starlink hardware

Starlink hardware is now available for purchase at Swedish retail chain Clas Ohlson. The devices make it possible to connect to the Internet…

Distribution7. August 2023

Second quarter

Byggmax slows sales decline to -13.4 per cent

Swedish DIY group Byggmax reported sales of SEK 2.203 bn (EUR 192 mio) in the second quarter, down 13.4 per cent on the same period …

Distribution14. July 2023

Online plus 9 per cent

Clas Ohlson grows by 3 per cent in 2022/2023

Swedish retail chain Clas Ohlson has reported sales of SEK 9.024 bn (EUR 774.5 mio) in its 2022/2023 financial year (May 2022 to April …

Distribution12. June 2023

Down 25 per cent in the first quarter

Byggmax sales down sharply from record quarter

The Swedish Byggmax Group's sales in the first quarter were 25.1 per cent down on the first quarter of 2022, the company reported. …

Distribution25. April 2023

Change from the education sector

Karl Sandlund to be new Byggmax boss

Karl Sandlund will be the new head of the Swedish DIY group Byggmax. The board of directors has appointed him president and CEO of the Byggmax …

Distribution20. April 2023

Finland, Sweden, Norway

Kesko's home improvement division grows by 3.7 per cent

The building and home improvement trade division of Finland's Kesko Group achieved total sales of EUR 2.3772 bn in 2022. …

Distribution16. March 2023

May to January

Clas Ohlson reports 3 per cent increase after nine months

A 3 per cent increase has been reported by Swedish retail chain Clas Ohlson for the first nine months of its 2022/2023 …

Distribution14. February 2023

After six years

Byggmax boss Mattias Ankarberg leaves the company and the industry

Byggmax boss Mattias Ankarberg is leaving the company. After six years as president and CEO at the helm of the …

Distribution13. February 2023

Like-for-like -12.2 per cent

Byggmax turnover down by 5 per cent, company does not intend to pay a dividend

The Swedish Byggmax Group's turnover in the past financial year was 5.0 per cent lower than in the …

Distribution1. February 2023

Plus 3 per cent since May

Clas Ohlson sales grow by 2 per cent in December 2022

Clas Ohlson’s sales in December increased by 2 per cent to SEK 1 234 mio (approx. EUR 110.2 mio). In December 2021 the …

Distribution11. January 2023

First half of 2022/23

Clas Ohlson sales back to previous year's level at the end of the second quarter

Clas Ohlson has increased its sales by 3 per cent to SEK 4.294 bn (approx. EUR 393.9 mio) in the …

Distribution7. December 2022

Focus on interior renovation

Byggmax launches new Byggmax Studio concept

DIY and building materials retailer Byggmax, which operates in Scandinavia, has announced that it will open one of its first stores …

Distribution18. November 2022

Online plus 17 per cent

Clas Ohlson increases half-year sales by 3 per cent

Clas Ohlson has posted a 3 per cent increase in sales from May to October, the first six months of its 2022/2023 financial year…

Distribution10. November 2022

Umeå 23rd store in Sweden

Bauhaus moves closer to the Arctic Circle

In Umeå, the German DIY chain Bauhaus has opened its second store within five months in Sweden. It is the 23rd store to be opened by …

Distribution31. October 2022

-5.3 per cent

Byggmax sales in the third quarter below last year's level

In the third quarter of the current year, the Swedish DIY group Byggmax turned over SEK 2.273 bn (EUR 207 mio), 5.3 per …

Distribution21. October 2022

Finland, Sweden, Norway

Kesko sales grew by 2.4 per cent in Q2 2022

Kesko net sales in the building and home improvement trade have risen 2.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2022 to EUR 716.0 mio. In …

Distribution17. August 2022

"Weak market climate"

Clas Ohlson’s sales in July decreased by 4 per cent

Clas Ohlson’s sales in July 2022 decreased by 4 per cent to SEK 699 mio (approx. EUR 67.31 mio) after SEK 732 mio in the …

Distribution9. August 2022

Bygma Group

Icelandic chain Husasmidjan introduces new concept

Icelandic DIY and building materials retail chain Husasmidjan has implemented its evolved strategy in a new flagship store. The …

Distribution28. July 2022

Icelandic Husasmidjan chain

Innovative flagship store in the North Atlantic

The Icelandic company Husasmidjan, part of the Danish Bygma Group, has opened a pilot store in the very north of the island to …

Distribution28. July 2022

Sweden and Denmark

Bauhaus continues to expand in Scandinavia

German DIY retailer Bauhaus continues its expansion in Scandinavia with new openings in Sweden and Denmark. Today, 8 July 2022, the …

Distribution8. July 2022

Former Byggmax CFO

Pernilla Walfridsson new CFO of Clas Ohlson

The Swedish retailer Clas Ohlson has appointed Pernilla Walfridsson as new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She will take up her new role …

Distribution13. May 2022

Acquisitions driving growth

Byggmax grows by 14.4 per cent overall, 1.6 per cent in Sweden

In the first quarter of the current year, the Swedish DIY group Byggmax turned over SEK 1.271 bn (EUR 124 mio), 14.4 …

Distribution22. April 2022

Summer 2022

Byggmax expands in Denmark

Byggmax has announced plans to open its first store under its own brand in Denmark in the summer of 2022. The Swedish DIY store operator's planned …

Distribution11. April 2022

Danish e-commerce company

Byggmax acquires BygMax

The Swedish Byggmax Group has acquired the Danish e-commerce company BygMax and the associated e-bygstore, a founder-led Danish e-commerce company focusing …

Distribution1. March 2022

Record sales 2021

Kesko makes 24 per cent more in the building and home improvement trade

The Finnish Kesko Group achieved record sales in the past year with its building materials and DIY trade …

Distribution10. February 2022

2021: up 12.5 per cent

Byggmax reports record sales and announces new formats

The Swedish Byggmax group reports strong growth at a record sales level for the year 2021. The Swedish group made SEK 7.645 …

Distribution27. January 2022

May to October

Clas Ohlson grows online by 27 per cent

The Swedish retail group Clas Ohlson increased sales in the first six months of its fiscal year (May to October) by 2 per cent compared with…

News10. November 2021

Online share 18 percent

Byggmax group reports plus of 9 per cent in third quarter

The Swedish Byggmax group reports sales to the amount of SEK 2.400 bn (EUR 239 mio) for the third quarter and thus a …

News25. October 2021

Online growth 61 per cent

Clas Ohlson’s sales increased by 6 per cent in September

Swedish retail chain Clas Ohlson increased its sales in September by 6 per cent to SEK 667 mio (EUR 65.8 mio). Organic …

News8. October 2021

-1 per cent May to July

Clas Ohlson almost at previous year’s level in first quarter

The Swedish retail chain Clas Ohlson recorded a slight increase in sales from May to July 2021, the first quarter of …

News23. August 2021

Back to regular operation again

Bauhaus Scandinavia: online shops and tills were temporarily closed

The German DIY store chain Bauhaus has also been named as victim in connection with the ransomware attack on the…

News9. July 2021

New opening

Hornbach expands in Sweden with smaller format

After Hornbach opened the first of its new type of project stores in Sweden in Borås and Kristianstad in the years 2018 and 2019, the…

News30. June 2021

Nordics - Finland

Finns in a DIY boom

The Finnish building and home improvement trade segment grew by 4.8 per cent in 2020. Best performing category was lawn and garden achieving a plus of 16 per …

Distribution4. June 2021

Nordics - Statistics

Preferring to stay amongst themselves

The home improvement industry in the five Nordic countries Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland are strongly interconnected with each …

Distribution4. June 2021

Finish market leader

Kesko increases DIY and building trade sales by 16 per cent

The building and home improvement trade division of the Finish Kesko group increased its sales in 2020 by 16.2 per cent …

News26. April 2021

Byggmax CEO

Mattias Ankarberg: “We are still a hard discounter”

Mattias Ankarberg, CEO of the Swedish Byggmax group since the end of 2016, clearly showed his support for the discount principle…

News8. April 2021

Building and home improvement trade 2020

Finns in a DIY boom generate increase in sales of 4.8 per cent

The building and home improvement trade in Finland has increased its sales in the year 2020 by 4.8 per cent. Growth …

News11. February 2021

Building and home improvement trade

Kesko gains 16 per cent in the year 2020

The Finnish Kesko group increased sales in the year 2020 by 16.2 per cent in its building and home improvement trade division, the …

News9. February 2021

Maxbo boss Carl Otto Løvenskiold in an interview

DIY sector in Norway grew in 2020 by almost 26 per cent

The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting shift in lifestyle has also led to people investing more in their apartments, …

News28. January 2021

Swedish retailer

Sales down at Clas Ohlson, but online business growing

Sales at Swedish retail group Clas Ohlson were down by 14 per cent in December compared with the same month in 2019, and by …

News20. January 2021

Orthex Group

Scandinavian pioneer

The Orthex Group produces plastic home and garden products in Sweden and Finland. It has been using recycled material for some considerable time. Under its …

Suppliers27. November 2020

Overall -8 per cent

Clas Ohlson also makes less online in September

The Swedish Clas Ohlson group recorded a drop in sales of 8 per cent in September. In local currencies, the ("organic") …

News16. October 2020

Paint manufacturer and dealer

Flügger benefits in part from the Covid-19 crisis

In fiscal 2019/2020 (May to April), the Danish paint manufacturer and dealer Flügger increased its sales by 4 per cent to DKK 1.89…

News3. July 2020

Store no. 13 in the pipeline

Danish Plantorama garden centres grow by 4 per cent

The Danish garden centre chain Plantorama grew its sales by 3.9 per cent to DKK 462.622 mio (EUR 62.096 mio) in 2019. Profit …

News20. May 2020

National sales EUR 335 mio

Bauhaus seeks further locations in Denmark

Bauhaus made sales to the amount of DKK 2.458 bn (EUR 334.557 mio) in Denmark last year. The Danish business information service Proff …

News13. May 2020

News from Denmark

Jem & Fix opens three new stores despite Covid-19

The Danish chain Jem & Fix will be opening three new stores this Sunday despite restrictions caused by Covid-19. Due to the …

News30. April 2020

Denmark

Harald Nyborg builds new stores

The Danish DIY store chain Harald Nyborg is expanding its store portfolio. Three new construction projects are currently in progress, meaning that …

News27. January 2020

Building chemistry

Bostik acquires Danish company LIP

Bostik is to take over the company LIP Bygningsartikler AS (LIP), the Danish market leader in tile adhesives, sealing systems and substrate …

News23. December 2019

Hornbach

The (somewhat) smaller Hornbach

In Sweden, Hornbach expands with a smaller store format, also in order to gain a foothold in medium-sized cities. After a pilot store, a second …

Distribution26. November 2019

Sweden

Byggmax reveals numbers for third quarter 2019

The Swedish DIY retailer and builder's merchant Byggmax has revealed numbers for his third quarter of 2019. Sales increased by 5.9 …

News22. October 2019

Opening in Kristianstad

Hornbach expands in Sweden with smaller store format

One year after the opening of the first of its new project store type in Borås, the German DIY retail chain Hornbach continues …

News19. September 2019

3 per cent down

Flügger has had a “challanging start” to the year 2019/2020

Flügger, the Danish paint manufacturer and trader, has started its financial year 2019/20 with a decline in sales. In t…

News18. September 2019

Builders’ merchants

Two more acquisitions of Stark Group in Sweden

Stark Group, a Danish retailer and distributor of building materials, has acquired two more Swedish builders' merchant chains. The …

News28. June 2019

From Saint-Gobain

Davidsens Tømmerhandel takes over Optimera Denmark

The Danish home improvement and building materials chain Davidsens Tømmerhandel has taken over the Optimera construction …

News26. June 2019

One year on

Jem & Fix now has five stores in Norway

After entering the Norwegian market a year ago, the Danish home improvement chain Jem & Fix now has five outlets in the neighbouring …

News18. June 2019

Denmark

Plantorama increases sales and profit

The Danish Garden Centre chain Plantorama, with its eleven stores, has increased net revenue by 2.3 per cent to DKK 434 mio (EUR 58.2 mio). …

News10. May 2019

First quarter

Byggmax Group starts the year with sales up 7.5 per cent

The Swedish retailer Byggmax Group has entered 2019 with a positive first-quarter performance. Sales of the group, which …

News18. April 2019

3.5 billion euros

Building materials trade grows by nearly five per cent in Denmark

Sales by Danish builders' merchants in the last year totalled EUR 3.5 billion. Compared with the previous year, …

News17. April 2019

Denmark

Bygma posts another sales record

The Danish DIY store group Bygma increased its sales last year by 5.4 per cent to DKK 7.8975 bn (EUR 1.0579 bn). Falling currency exchange rates …

News15. April 2019

2017/2018

Davidsens Tømmerhandel reports an increase of nearly three per cent

The Danish home improvement and building materials chain Davidsens Tømmerhandel increased its sales most …

News8. April 2019

Nordic countries - Iceland

Also very well supplied with home improvement stores

Iceland is one of the richest countries in Europe. The sparsely populated volcanic island is also one of the front-runners in …

Distribution25. March 2019

Nordic countries - Finland

Concept instead of king-size

DIY International asked Minna Liuksiala, managing director of Rasi Ry, Finnish Hardware Association, for an assessment of the current situation on the …

Distribution25. March 2019

Nordic countries - Finland

Undisputed market leader

The Kesko Group dominates the Finnish home improvement market. Countless domestic and foreign players are also operating in the market

Distribution25. March 2019

Nordic countries - Norway

In the far north

On the Norwegian DIY market, apart from a few native companies, some neighbours from Sweden, Denmark and Finland are also bustling around

Distribution25. March 2019

Nordic countries - Norway

Incentive to invest

On the basis of per-capita spending, the Norwegian private refurbishment market is the biggest in Europe. Industry expert Tor Ivar Riise analyses the market

Distribution25. March 2019

Nordic countries - Denmark

Very Danish

The distribution of DIY store locations in Denmark is comparatively consistent. Most are operated by native companies

Distribution25. March 2019

Nordic countries - Denmark

Opportunities are good

The Danish home improvement market is benefiting from the boom on the labour and property market. Expert Jørgen Moth analyses how the trade is positioned

Distribution25. March 2019

Sweden - Statistics

A plethora of formats

The DIY retail scene in Sweden is incredibly varied. Alongside paint specialists and big-box stores, Byggmax and Clas Ohlson in particular have established …

Distribution11. February 2019

Cost reduction

Clas Ohlson cuts up to 200 jobs

Swedish home improvement retailer Clas Ohlson is cutting 150 to 200 jobs, primarily in the headquarters and distribution centre in Insjön. This …

News5. February 2019

Denmark

Stark’s new strategy brings in profits again

The Danish builders' merchant chain Stark closed financial year 2017/2018 (ending 31 August 2018) with positive figures again, after …

News30. January 2019

Sales 2018

Byggmax loses, mainly due to Skånska Byggvaror

The Swedish DIY store group Byggmax has completed the year 2018 with a decline in sales. At SEK 5.1078 bn, net sales were 4.0 per …

News29. January 2019

Denmark

Bygma expands on Bornholm

The Danish Bygma Group has acquired Fridolf A/S construction centres with two sites in Rønne and Nexø on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic. The …

News25. January 2019

German cooperative

Eurobaustoff has got a first member in Sweden

Derome Aktiebolag is the first Swedish partner for the German building materials trade cooperative Eurobaustoff. The company has its …

News14. January 2019

Now virtually only online

Harald Nyborg closes nearly all its bricks and mortar stores in Sweden

The Danish chain Harald Nyborg is largely withdrawing its bricks and mortar stores from Sweden, but will …

News11. December 2018

Expansion

Silvan seeks 20 new locations in Denmark

The Danish DIY store chain Silvan Byggemarked wants to significantly expand its branch network and is seeking 20 new locations. Six of …

News7. December 2018

Medium-sized cities too

Hornbach looks to expand in Sweden with more compact stores

Hornbach aims to expand further in Sweden with smaller stores than those opened hitherto. "We still see great …

News27. September 2018

Market entry

Jem & Fix sees potential for 50 stores in Norway

The Danish DIY store chain Jem & Fix sees a potential of up to 50 locations in Norway. That is what country manager Kennet …

News3. July 2018

Gipling AS

Kesko acquires the largest Byggmakker retailer

Kesko Corporation's subsidiary Byggmakker Handel AS has agreed to purchase Gipling AS, a Norwegian operator in the building and home …

News20. June 2018

Kesko in Norway

Byggmakker acquires cooperative member Skattum

Byggmakker Handel AS, the Norwegian subsidiary of the Finnish Kesko Group, has acquired Skattum Handel, a member of its own …

News11. June 2018

Hong Kong discount chain

Rusta expands into Finland following acquisition

The Swedish discount chain Rusta has acquired the Finnish low-cost chain Hong Kong, which operates a similar retail format. Hong …

News11. May 2018

Char-Broil

Nordic focus country

Thorsten Schwenecke, Brand Marketing Manager Europe at Char-Broil, explains why Denmark is so important for the grill provider

Garden3. April 2018

New strategy

Byggmax closes four stores in Finland and announces new ones

Byggmax is reorganising itself in Finland. The Swedish DIY store operator is closing 13 of its stores there and has …

News11. September 2017

Storch-Ciret

Out of the silo mentality

Sustainability is multifaceted. This is all the more true at the Storch-Ciret Group when you …

Suppliers3. September 2025

France

Cautious French

French DIY stores recently saw a 4.3 percent drop in sales – and thus proved to be quite resilient…

Distribution2. September 2025

Italy

Committed to tradition

In Italy, the segment of cooperatives and independent retailers is relatively strong. In terms of …

Distribution2. September 2025