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Company history

The Company was established as a general Ship Supplier on the 7th September 1954 by Mr. J.H. Olsen Snr. at No. 10 Sankt Annae Plads in Copenhagen. Mr. J.H. Olsen Snr. had already at that time more than 26 years shipping experience and had acquired his nick name ”Anker Ole”, a name he kept throughout his life.

During the first years the core business was Ship Supply to Danish and foreign cargo, cruise and Naval vessels. Besides this Mr. Olsen was focusing on agencies for a variety of equipment for ships e.g. Anchor, Anchor chains, Accommodation ladders and gangways. These three specialities are still amongst the Company’s core specialities.

Later the number of agencies grew and included: Ship repair world-wide, buoy arrangements, free-fall lifeboats, steel wire, steel blocks, pilot ladders as well as special off-shore equipment.

J.H.Olsen’s son Jens J Olsen started in the company in October 1968. He was seeking his own shipping education andafter an educational trip to UK and Holland, was now ready to make his own mark in the company.

J.H. Olsen & Co. was converted to a limited company in 1977 and moved to the present address at No. 50 Dronningens Tværgade.

J.H. Olsen & Co. (Mediterranean) ApS was established in 1976 with the purpose of looking after the sales of the Coca-Cola and Schweppes products. In the beginning this company was located in Nice, France, and was looking after the important contract which had been signed with the US Navy, for delivery of Coca-Cola products to the ships in their Mediterranean and Atlantic fleets. This very close co-operation with The Coca-Cola Company and Schweppes International has been maintained through the years and the company became Authorised Tax-free distributor, for both producers in Denmark.

The contact with the Military partners has been kept intact through a close co-operation with NATO Forces, where the Company has enjoyed more than 32 year of business, and has supported more than 75 exercises in several European countries.

The family’s 3rd generation, Jørgen Arildslund (J.H. Olsen’s grandchild) started in the company in 1984, after his shipping education and a year in Germany, Holland and UK.

When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 and the markets in Eastern Europe opened up for business, Jens Olsen was one of the first entrepreneurs to establish a branch office in Warsaw, Poland.

Christian Olsen (Jens Olsen’s oldest son) started in the company in 2003. Christian had a shipping and logistic agent education and has enhanced the company’s logistics experience being able to provide the most professional transport solutions.

Simon Olsen (Jens Olsen’s youngest son) started in the company in 2006 after finalizing his education as a Chef and exercising his skills for 5 years in finer restaurants in Copenhagen. Simon’s background as a trained Chef has strengthened the company’s expertise for our food supplies to both the military as well as the daily cargo and cruise ships.

Jens Olsen, who was elected in 1992 as the Chairman of the Danish Ship Supply Association, has through the years made his strong mark on the maritime trade organisation. He was elected to be the Chairman of the European Trade organisation for Ship Suppliers “OCEAN” in 1987. Further he was selected for a seat on the Executive Committee of The International Ship Suppliers Association ”ISSA” in 1994, a position he maintained until he was elected as President of ISSA in October 2008.

All in all you can say: that the special spirit J.H.Olsen Snr. established in the company more than 55 years ago, today is carried on by Jens Olsen, Jørgen Arildslund, Christian and Simon Olsen.