Top: Regional: Europe: Iceland: Business and Economy: Co-Ops


[ history ]

The Co-Operative movement reached Iceland late in the 19th century and companies based on this concept played a very important part in the economy of the 20th century especially on the countryside. FOY the name Kaupfélag that you will see repeated quite a lot here below is the Icelandic word for cooperative.
Today the role of the co-ops is somewhat dimished both due to social factors and also due to the failiure of Sambandið (A Cooperative organiosational umbrella that almost went bust in the 90´s), but there are a few that are still around mostly operating on a local level.


[ history ]

Kaupfélag Eyfirðinga Akureyri (KEA)

This is the countries biggest co-op and indeed was for a time in the seventies the third bigges co-op in Scandinavia, incredible considering that it´s based in a town that at time had only some 10 thousand inhabitants.


[ history ]

Kaupfélag Austur Skaftfellinga (KASK)

Based in Höfn in Hornaförður on the southeastern cost of the country, in addition to the usual trading activities the company also has small banking/financial and transportation departments. The company was founded in 1919 and became operational in the summer of 1920.


[ history ]

Kaupfélag Skagfirðinga

A rather lage Co-Op based in the norhtern side of the country with headquarters in Sauðárkrókur, in addition to the obligatory trading activites the company runs a few fisheries, animal feed factories, some light industry, has an indipendent tranportation department and runs service outlets for electrics and cars.


[ history ]

Kaupfélag Borgfirðinga

Founded in 1904 and has tradidionally been one of the biggest employers in the western side of the country, although today it´s operations are mostly centered around trading activities. Based in Borgarnes.


[ history ]

Kaupfélag Héraðsbúa

Founded on the 19th of april 1909, KH is involved in trading activities all over the eastern side of the country.


[ history ]

Kaupfélag Vestur Húnvetninga

Based in Hvammstangi and services the notheasern side of the country. Active in trading and transport/logistics but also runs a sloughterhouse.



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