ICA AB

ICA’s history began in 1917 when Hakon Swenson founded Hakonbolaget, in Västerås, Sweden. At the core of his concept lied the idea of getting individual retailers to join forces and form purchasing centers, allowing them to achieve the same economies of scale as the chains by making joint purchases, establishing stores and sharing their marketing costs. At the same time, these partnerships allowed each retailer to retain his own personal approach to customers. It's a formula that's as relevant now as it was then, and it’s called the ICA idea.

Today, ICA is a joint venture 40% owned by Hakon Invest AB and 60% by Royal Ahold. Through a shareholder agreement, the owners jointly share a controlling influence over ICA AB. The Group is one of the Nordic region’s leading retail companies, with around 2,200 of its own and retailer-owned stores in Sweden, Norway and the Baltic states. ICA offers financial services through ICA Bank to customers in Sweden, where ICA is also one of the most popular and best-known retail brands.

Through a variety of store formats, ICA retailers in Sweden and ICA franchisees in Norway combine the local village store feeling with the benefits of scale that come from being part of a large multi-national. The store owners are often well-known personalities in their communities. And they, and their teams, are key to building the trust that has made ICA a leading brand. Their efforts are further supported by a wide range of own brand products that meets the needs of various customer groups.