Sthyr & Kjær
Sthyr & Kjær was a Copenhagen-based Danish grocery wholesaler that developed from a nineteenth-century sugar-trading firm into a major supplier to Danish retail chains before being absorbed into Dagrofa's predecessor, Dagros.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Sthyr & Kjær was a Danish grocery-wholesale and trading company founded in Copenhagen on 2 August 1866 by Selgen Sthyr and P. B. Kjær. The founders had previously worked together at Adolph's trading firm, and the new business initially concentrated on sugar. It became closely connected with the import trade from the Danish West Indies and purchased almost all of the sugar imported by Moses & Søn G. Melchior. This early specialization gave the firm a position in one of the most important branches of Denmark's nineteenth-century grocery economy. The company expanded its ownership and activities during the late nineteenth century. Selgen Sthyr's brother, P. C. A. Sthyr, joined as a partner in 1875. In 1881, Sthyr & Kjær acquired the property at Rådhusstræde 13 in central Copenhagen and made it the firm's headquarters. The business also owned the Niels Brock House on Strandgade in Christianshavn. Partnership changes followed: P. B. Kjær retired in 1893, while Selgen Sthyr's son Hans Hald Sthyr became a partner in 1894. P. C. A. Sthyr left the firm in 1913. Sthyr & Kjær also pursued industrial ventures related to food and household commodities. In 1888 it established a washing-soda factory, which became part of Akts. Sodafabrikkerne in 1896. In the same year, it joined Moses & Søn G. Melchior in establishing Maribo Sugar Factory on Lolland. That factory was taken over by De Danske Sukkerfabrikker in 1898. In 1899, Sthyr & Kjær established a potato-flour factory at Holstebro. The plant was later converted into a sugar factory, destroyed by fire in 1912, and subsequently relocated to Copenhagen, where the activity continued as A/S Kbh.s Sukkerraffinaderier. In 1919, the partnership was converted into a limited company, with Hans Hald Sthyr serving as chairman. By the 1920s, Sthyr & Kjær was regarded as one of Denmark's largest grocery wholesalers. Its distribution role included being the principal supplier to the CENTRA and SPAR retail chains, linking the company to the development of organized grocery retail in Denmark. The company ceased to operate independently in 1978, when it was taken over by Lund & Rasmussen and continued under the name Dagros. Dagros later merged with Brdr. Justesen and became part of the corporate history of Dagrofa. Sthyr & Kjær's former headquarters also survived as a cultural site. Copenhagen Municipality bought the Rådhusstræde 13 property in 1969, and it was converted into the cultural centre known as Huset i Magstræde, later Huset KBH. In the late 1990s, the venue housed a theatre called Teater Shyr & Kjær. The company's founder, Selgen Sthyr, is also depicted in Peder Severin Krøyer's 1894 group portrait From Copenhagen Stock Exchange.
History
Sthyr & Kjær was established in Copenhagen on 2 August 1866 by Selgen Sthyr and P. B. Kjær, former colleagues at Adolph's trading firm. Its first principal business was sugar trading, including the purchase of nearly all sugar imported into Denmark by Moses & Søn G. Melchior from the Danish West Indies. The firm broadened its ownership structure in 1875 when P. C. A. Sthyr joined as a partner. In 1881 it acquired Rådhusstræde 13 as its headquarters and also held the Niels Brock House on Strandgade in Christianshavn. The firm's partnership changed during the 1890s. P. B. Kjær retired in 1893, and Hans Hald Sthyr, son of Selgen Sthyr, became a partner in 1894. Sthyr & Kjær expanded beyond trading into manufacturing and food-related investments. It founded a washing-soda factory in 1888; that operation entered Akts. Sodafabrikkerne in 1896. Also in 1896, it partnered with Moses & Søn G. Melchior to establish Maribo Sugar Factory on Lolland. De Danske Sukkerfabrikker acquired the factory in 1898. In 1899 the company founded a potato-flour factory in Holstebro. The facility was later converted into a sugar factory and was destroyed by fire in 1912. The operation was subsequently moved to Copenhagen and continued as A/S Kbh.s Sukkerraffinaderier. P. C. A. Sthyr left the firm in 1913. In 1919, Sthyr & Kjær became a limited company, with Hans Hald Sthyr as chairman. During the 1920s, the business was among Denmark's largest grocery wholesalers and served as the principal supplier to the CENTRA and SPAR retail chains. Its role was therefore not limited to commodity trading: it also functioned as an important distribution intermediary for organized Danish retail. The independent company ended in 1978 when Lund & Rasmussen took it over and continued the operation as Dagros. Dagros later merged with Brdr. Justesen and became Dagrofa. The original headquarters acquired a separate civic legacy. Copenhagen Municipality purchased the building in 1969, and from around 1970 it operated as the cultural venue Huset i Magstræde, later Huset KBH. During the late 1990s, the site included Teater Shyr & Kjær. The founder Selgen Sthyr is also represented in Peder Severin Krøyer's 1894 painting From Copenhagen Stock Exchange.
- 1978
Business continues as Dagros
[1]Following its takeover by Lund & Rasmussen, the company continued under the name Dagros.
- 1919
Converted into a limited company
[1]Sthyr & Kjær was reorganized as a limited company, with Hans Hald Sthyr as chairman.
- 1912
Holstebro plant destroyed by fire
[1]The company's converted sugar facility at Holstebro was destroyed by fire and later relocated to Copenhagen.
- 1899
Potato-flour factory established
[1]Sthyr & Kjær founded a potato-flour factory at Holstebro, later converted into a sugar factory.
- 1896
Maribo Sugar Factory established
[1]The firm jointly established Maribo Sugar Factory with Moses & Søn G. Melchior.
- 1888
Washing-soda factory established
[1]Sthyr & Kjær expanded into washing-soda manufacturing.
- 1881
New Copenhagen headquarters acquired
[1]The company bought Rådhusstræde 13 and established the property as its headquarters.
- 1875
P. C. A. Sthyr joins as partner
[1]Selgen Sthyr's brother P. C. A. Sthyr became a partner in the firm.
- 1866
Company founded
[1]Selgen Sthyr and P. B. Kjær founded Sthyr & Kjær in Copenhagen on 2 August, initially focusing on sugar trading.
Products and positioning
A large Danish grocery wholesaler and trading house whose business developed from sugar import and distribution into broader food wholesaling and related industrial ventures.
Food commodity · 1866
Sugar
Sugar was Sthyr & Kjær's original and most important trading line. The company was closely involved in sugar imported from the Danish West Indies through Moses & Søn G. Melchior and later extended its activities into sugar manufacturing and refining investments.
Wholesale distribution
Grocery wholesale
By the twentieth century, Sthyr & Kjær had developed into a broad grocery wholesaler supplying Danish retail. It was identified as the principal supplier to the CENTRA and SPAR retail chains and ranked among Denmark's largest wholesalers during the 1920s.
Household chemical · 1888
Washing soda
The company entered washing-soda manufacturing in 1888. This factory operation later became part of Akts. Sodafabrikkerne in 1896 rather than remaining an independent Sthyr & Kjær activity.
Food ingredient · 1899
Potato flour
Sthyr & Kjær established a potato-flour factory at Holstebro in 1899. The plant was later converted to sugar production, destroyed by fire in 1912, and replaced by a Copenhagen operation known as A/S Kbh.s Sukkerraffinaderier.
Brand decisions
1978
Takeover by Lund & RasmussenM&ABackground
After more than a century as an independent Copenhagen trading and wholesale business, Sthyr & Kjær was taken over in the context of consolidation in Danish grocery distribution.
Action taken
Lund & Rasmussen acquired the company and continued its operations under the Dagros name.
Aftermath
Dagros later merged with Brdr. Justesen and became part of Dagrofa's corporate succession.
Recent events
- 1978
Sthyr & Kjær is taken over and continued as Dagros[1]
M&A
Lund & Rasmussen took over Sthyr & Kjær, after which the business continued under the name Dagros.
- 1970
Former headquarters becomes a Copenhagen cultural centre[1]
Other
After Copenhagen Municipality acquired the former headquarters at Rådhusstræde 13 in 1969, the building was converted into the cultural venue Huset i Magstræde, later known as Huset KBH.
Dagros later becomes part of Dagrofa through merger[1]
M&A
Dagros subsequently merged with Brdr. Justesen and continued as Dagrofa, completing the later corporate succession of Sthyr & Kjær's wholesale business.
Sources1 sources
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