Johan i Hallen & Bergfalk

This story begins not with one, but two separate legacies. In 1840, a stagecoach driver named Anders Gustaf Bergfalk started a side business, selling seafood he bought on Sweden's west coast during his routes back to Stockholm. Seeing its potential, he founded Bergfalk & Co, which would become a premier supplier of fish and seafood. Decades later, in 1916, Johan Andersson established 'Johan i Hallen' in Gothenburg's main market hall, specializing in high-quality meat and charcuterie. For a century, these two companies operated in parallel, becoming specialists in their respective fields—Bergfalk in fish from Stockholm, and Johan i Hallen in meat from Gothenburg. The major turning point came in 2018 when the private equity firm Litorina facilitated a partnership, merging the two powerhouses. This move created a new, stronger group with a combined turnover of approximately 1.2 billion SEK, aiming to be the go-to protein specialist for restaurants and hotels across Sweden. The integration was a strategic fit. Bergfalk’s strength in the Stockholm region complemented Johan i Hallen's dominance in western Sweden. The new entity, Johan i Hallen & Bergfalk, continued its growth trajectory, acquiring other local specialists to expand its reach in both Sweden and Finland. The final chapter of this independent journey was written in May 2023, when the German wholesale giant Metro AG acquired the entire group for approximately €100 million. The acquisition provided Johan i Hallen & Bergfalk with a powerful international owner while allowing it to operate independently under its well-established brand. Following the Metro deal, the company has continued to expand, acquiring Finnish specialist Donier Gastronomie in June 2024.