"It's important to spread out and have many products. And Nordthy is becoming a good name."
So says Søren Lukassen, CEO and co-owner of Nordthy near Thisted.
Nordthy is a wholesaler with over 1,000 SKUs - everything from biscuits and ketchup to cakes, confectionery and crunchy nuts. And the product range just keeps growing and growing.
- More goods are coming in than going out - and that creates space challenges, says the director.
In 2019, the company expanded at Rubinvej 61 by 2,600 square meters, 2,000 of which are used for storage. That's not nearly enough.
- We would like to expand by another 2,600 square meters, because we can't fit here," says Søren Lukassen as he shows us around the premises, which were taken into use in the autumn.
- It's already full everywhere," he says.
Nordthy is in talks with Thisted Municipality about the expansion. However, it requires an exemption from the current building regulations in Østerild town.
- As a business, we're allowed a building percentage of 30 percent, which we have now. But in Frøstrup and other smaller towns in the area it's 50 percent, so we hope we'll be allowed," says Søren Lukassen.
The surveyor has already been by to put marking stakes in the ground.
- We're just getting started," says Søren Lukassen.
Since Søren's father, Børge Lukassen, founded B. Lukassen´s kager, there has been a focus on product development.
- It's part of our strategy to be innovative. Things are changing all the time - once upon a time it was popular with rusks and cheesecakes," says Søren Lukassen, as he shows off the latest addition to the range - fruit bars.
- It's not a new idea, but so far there have been few producers in that market. We want a share of that market," says Søren Lukassen about the future of the fruit bars, which are produced in Højslev near Skive.
Produced abroad
Not many of the 1,000 items are produced in Denmark; Nordthy has agreements with factories all over Europe. The nuts are from Greece, for example, and the small muesli bars are produced in Ukraine.
Most goods are shipped to Østerild, where they are packed in quarter pallets or pallet frames - depending on the customer's wishes.
In general, Nordthy puts a lot of effort into packaging.
- "A lot of our snacks-to-go are eaten. It shows that it's amazing what it does to the product that it comes in a box that can be closed," says Søren Lukassen and compares it to the classic pretzel sticks. They sprinkle and require a glass.
Turbulent spring
Spring 2020 has been a turbulent period for the family-run business in Østerild.
- Our border trade went from 100 percent to zero in no time, and sales to campsites also took a hit. On the other hand, we have sold a lot to online stores, including Nemlig.com, and we have also seen increased sales in regular stores located in the area between the border and Kolding. It's been a strange combination," says Søren Lukassen.
Over the past four to five years, Nordthy has increased its turnover considerably.
- Growth has been 30 percent year-on-year and we believe it will continue," he says.
Nordthy, which has 70 employees on the payroll, delivers goods throughout Europe. The newest areas in the portfolio are Iceland and Greenland.
- They absolutely love our fruit bars," he says.
The fruit bars have barely gone from idea to finished product before a new one is on its way.
- We will make almonds with chocolate, and we will also have Thy gum in four different flavors," says Søren Lukassen, who has no doubt that the company will help put Thy on the map.
Food Supply
