Loss of KNI delivery does not shake Arctic Import

It annoys Thomas Hjort, CEO of Arctic Import, that the company has lost KNI's tender for the supply of daily goods, but it does not make him shake his hand. He believes in continued growth in the Greenlandic economy and thus also good opportunities for growth in Arctic Import.

- We have had the agreement for five years – and it was exactly as agreed that KNI made a new tender round last year. We ourselves think that we made an attractive offer for the next three years. But there were others who would do it cheaper. That is completely fair – and there is nothing I regret in that connection, says Thomas Hjort.

- We continue to have a good relationship with KNI and will also continue to supply other product groups to the group, so there will continue to be close collaboration.

New products on the shelves

For the past five years, Arctic Import has delivered groceries to KNI from the Norwegian-owned chain Rema 1000. Now consumers in the Greenlandic settlements must get used to products from Dagrofa, which are also largely available in Pisiffik.

In the same five years, Arctic Import has delivered large profits to the shareholders – and it will of course be felt in Arctic Import that the company now no longer has that part of the turnover.

- But the profit on groceries is marginal, so it will not have a decisive impact on us. It will also not affect employment in the Greenlandic part of the company. The company has 35 employees in Greenland, says Thomas Hjort.

- Over the years, we have adapted Arctic Import in Greenland, where at one point we sold our grocery stores and focused wholeheartedly on the wholesale business. Here, we are strong in, among other things, foodservice and office equipment.

- This is our core business – and here we believe in continued growth in the Greenlandic economy, including in the tourism sector, so I am completely calm, even though we are now losing the groceries to KNI. We have costs under control, and this does not change our plans to take the new Greenlandic headquarters into use at the turn of the year.

New headquarters

Arctic Import is currently building a new headquarters at Qeqertanut in Nuuk. The headquarters is a total of 1,500 square meters and includes both offices, showrooms and, not least, one of Greenland's largest freezers.

- We still need that. Most of the groceries for KNI have been delivered directly to the stores from Denmark, so we still need the many new square meters, says Thomas Hjort.

- We were founded in Greenland almost 50 years ago, and we expect to stay there for the next 50 years. Regardless of what happens in Greenland, we are there. We have promised that to our customers and our employees, and we keep that promise.

Arctic Import was founded in Greenland by Ole Nielsen and Poul Jørgen Nielsen in 1978. The company is still owned by the founders and their families with a smaller shareholding to Thomas Hjort.