On Friday, September 12, 1884, Arvid Nordquist opened the doors to his first delicatessen store under his own name, where personal service was the watchword. It was located on the corner of Nybrogatan and Kommendörsgatan in central Stockholm. Arvid had worked as an assistant in the store for several years before he could afford to buy it.

Arvid Nordquist is appointed Royal Warrant Holder.

When Arvid Nordquist’s son Bengt took over the company in 1941, he was faced with a reality: if the company was to survive, it was up to him and no one else. Bengt Nordquist felt a very strong sense of responsibility for what he had inherited and put it this way: “The company is not there for the family. The family is there for the company.”

The business developed by selling and distributing wine and beer under the company name Nordman & Co. It began by selling Carlsberg strong beer to restaurants via Systembolaget and to the shipping trade. In connection with this, the agency for Le Cardinal’s Bordeaux wines was also purchased. But this was not enough, and Nordman also acquired agencies for Lanson champagne, Gilbeys & Gin, and Beaujolais Royal.

The product that made Arvid Nordquist a well-known brand among Swedish consumers is probably primarily its own-brand coffee, Classic. The company’s own roastery in Solna was completed in 1961, and despite fierce competition, Classic quickly became popular. During the 1980s, Arvid Nordquist won several awards for the Classic packaging and advertising campaigns for the coffee. In 1990, the magazine Fri Köpenskap named Classic coffee packaging “the packaging of the 1980s.”

The delicatessen shop in Östermalm closed down.

Anders Nordquist took over as CEO. Five years earlier, Anders had assumed responsibility for purchasing, quality assurance, and production of the company’s coffee.

Operations were established in Norway and Denmark. This was an important milestone in the company’s history, with expansion and a Nordic presence in addition to the existing operations in Sweden. This expansion marked a step towards becoming the broad Nordic company that Arvid Nordquist is today. 

Arvid Nordquist’s restaurant wholesale business was sold to ICA Meny (now Menigo).

The Alex F. Lindberg agency in Finland was acquired. The business was renamed Arvid Nordquist.

The company’s fourth business area, Non Food, was launched.

Our new coffee roastery and headquarters in Järfälla were finally completed. A state-of-the-art facility designed to minimize resource consumption and environmental impact. With a focus on both sustainability and the working environment, Arvid Nordquist offers a safe, efficient, and inspiring workplace for both production and office staff.