This year marks a milestone in Axfood's history – the 25th anniversary of the group. Founded on May 11, 2000, Axfood has grown its annual turnover from just over SEK 30 billion to more than SEK 80 billion. Over the years, the group has also expanded its presence in the Swedish food retail industry, now holding a 25 percent market share.
This year marks a milestone in Axfood's history – the 25th anniversary of the group. Founded on May 11, 2000, Axfood has grown its annual turnover from just over SEK 30 billion to more than SEK 80 billion. Over the years, the group has also expanded its presence in the Swedish food retail industry, now holding a 25 percent market share.
Over the years, Axfood has established itself as a prominent challenger in the industry. This is evident in the group's consistent growth and acquisitions, the strong market positions of its retail chains, the success of its innovative and popular private label products, and the development of a sustainable and efficient supply chain. Axfood's business model, built on distinctive concepts in collaboration, combined with a balance of flexibility and long-term vision, has positioned the group as a leading force in the Swedish food retail market.
– Celebrating 25 years as a group is a remarkable milestone for Axfood. Our success is built on strong and distinctive concepts in clear collaboration, and our ability to challenge the industry and stay ahead – all based on our core values. I now look forward to writing the next chapter in Axfood's history, with the same passion and drive that has brought us to we are today, says Axfood's President and CEO, Simone Margulies.
Since its founding, Axfood has carried out a number of successful projects and initiatives, including Dagab's state-of-the-art logistics center in Bålsta, one of Europe's most modern and highly automated warehouses. The group has also made significant progress in sustainability, driven by a deep internal commitment and a strong sense of pride in the efforts achieved.
Milestones in Axfood's History
Around the turn of the millennium, the family-owned company Axel Johnson set out to create Sweden's leading food company. The vision was to unite the country’s top wholesalers and retailers and offer customers the very best in grocery retail.
Some highlights in Axfood's history:
- 2000: The Axfood Group forms through the merger between D&D Dagligvaror, which included the logistics company Dagab, and the publicly listed Hemköp. This marks the beginning of a period of strategic store acquisitions, including Willys Cash and LL:s Livs.
- 2009: Axfood launches its private label products under the Garant brand.
- 2013: Warehousing, transportation, and purchasing are consolidated into a single company: Dagab.
- 2015: Axfood co-founds the very first Matmissionen, a social grocery store to support individuals in economicvulnerability, together with Stockholms Stadsmission.
- 2017: Axfood enters cross-border trade through the acquisition of Eurocash. The Group also invests in the startup of an online pharmacy, Apohem, with the ambition to broaden the group's offerings and enter the growing online pharmacy market. Willys continues to expand rapidly and opens its 200th store.
- 2020: Axfood's restaurant wholesaler Snabbgross, launches the Snabbgross Club concept, which allows private individuals to purchase affordable and high-quality food, ingredients, and household items in larger packages.
- 2021: Axfood makes history in the grocery market with the acquisition of the wholesale business Bergendahls Food.
- 2023: The Axfood group's new highly automated logistics center in Bålsta is commissioned.
- 2024: Stores halve food waste compared to the base year 2015 – achieving the goal one year ahead of schedule. Axfood acquires the hypermarket operator City Gross. For the third consecutive year, Hemköp has the highest share of organic sales in Sweden.
- 2025: In collaboration with Alight, Axfood commissions Sweden's largest solar park, located outside Hallstavik.
Our future
Axfood already has several new milestones to look forward to. Among them is a new logistics center planned for the Gothenburg region by 2030. At the same time, the group’s chains are preparing to strengthen their positions and continue challenging within their respective market segments.
Axfood's four goals for 2030 also provide a clear picture that the group will continue to challenge:
- By 2030, we lead the development towards the simplest and best experiences around food.
- By 2030, we are Sweden's most inclusive food company.
- By 2030, we are the strongest force for a sustainable food Sweden.
- By 2030, we have created a healthier Sweden.
– I look forward to the milestones ahead in Axfood's journey, where we will continue to challenge the industry and lead the way in offering affordable, good, and sustainable food to all Swedish consumers, says Simone Margulies.
