The History of JYSK

2020 - NOW

2023

On 1 September, Rami Jensen takes over as President & CEO in JYSK. He is only the third CEO in the history of the company and takes over from Jan Bøgh, who continues in a new role as President & CEO of Lars Larsen Group Retail.
On 18 August, a bronze sculpture of our founder Lars Larsen is revealed and placed in the reception of JYSK’s head office in Brabrand, Denmark. From now on, every visitor will have the chance to meet and have a picture with the Tradesman.
In May, JYSK as a company obtains certification within recycled materials as JYSK is certified by Global Recycled Standard (GRS).
On 4 May, JYSK opens the first two stores in Türkiye, which are placed in the Istanbul area.

2022

In November, JYSK celebrates the grand opening of the new, state-of-the-art distribution centre in Ecser, Hungary (DCE).
In August, JYSK commits to reducing footprint of textile industry.
In June, JYSK for the first time reaches DKK 1 billion turnover in B2B sales.
In March, among many other actions, JYSK donates a large quantity of products to UNHCR's work for refugees in and from Ukraine.
In March, JYSK descides to permanently close all stores in Russia due to the war in Ukraine.
On 1 January, all new products and packaging launched in JYSK are FSC-certified (FSC® N001715).

2021

On 27 September, all DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER stores in Germany change name to JYSK.
On 1 September, Rami Jensen is appointed Deputy President & CEO of JYSK.
On 12 February, JYSK opened the company’s store number 3,000, which is located in the Da Vinci Village in Fiumicino, Italy.

2020

On 21 October, JYSK Franchise opens in Abu Dhabi.
On 1 October, all DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER stores in Austria change name to JYSK.
On 1 July, JYSK opens a new modern distribution centre in Cheste in Spain. The new distribution centre replaces the old one in Valencia.
On 3 June, JYSK opens the doors for the company’s first store in Russia in Trojka Moscow.

2014 - 2019

2019

On 12 September, JYSK officially opens a brand new distribution centre in Bozhurishte near Sofia in Bulgaria.
On 19 August, founder of JYSK, Lars Larsen, passes away.
On 21 June, Lars Larsen decides to step down after more than 40 years of managing JYSK and Lars Larsen Group. New Chairman of the board is his son, Jacob Brunsborg.
On 28 March, It is decided to merge JYSK Nordic and DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER into one business unit.
On 22 May, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
On 6 April, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Cyprus.
On 2 April, JYSK celebrates its 40th anniversary.
On 2 April, JYSK opens the first store in Ireland.

2018

On 1 March, JYSK Franchise re-opens the first store in Dubai. (Previously, another franchisee operated a JYSK store from 2007-2008.)
On 10 December, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Thailand.

2017

On 2 November, JYSK opens the first store in Kuwait.
On 5 April, JYSK Nordic opens the first two stores in Belgium.

2016

On 22 December, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Moldova.
On 17 December, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Tajikistan.
On 17 November, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Belarus.
On 1 October, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Georgia.
On 29 July, DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER opens its first store in Portugal.
On 22 July, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Malta.

2015

On 4 November, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Albania.
On 28 October, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Vietnam.
On 26 September, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Singapore.
On 24 September, JYSK Nordic opens the first store in Greece in Athens.
On 15 January, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Montenegro in Niki.

2014

On 27 February, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Indonesia in Jakarta.

2009 - 2013

2013

On 22 June, JYSK Franchise opens the first store in Armenia in Yerevan.
In April, the former franchise-driven countries Romania and Bulgaria pass to JYSK Nordic.
In March, JYSK and Lars Larsen purchase the majority holding of IDdesign, which runs IDEmøbler and ILVA.

2012

In October, the former franchise-driven country Ukraine passes to JYSK Nordic.
In September, JYSK opens store number 2,000 worldwide. The store opens in the city of Leknes on the cluster of islands Lofoten in the northern Norway.
On 15 March, JYSK launches a new city-concept store, with the first version located in Stockholm, Sweden. The concept means smaller stores that are located in shopping malls and shopping centre’s in big cities, which presents the range of articles in a different way to our normal store concept.

2011

In September, JYSK wins in three awards, when FEIFA awarded Europe’s best communications effort. JYSK wins an award for 'photo of the year' for the image featured on the front cover of the staff magazine GO JYSK, also the 'Special Merit Award for the career newspaper and an award for 'best newspaper' for the trainee newspaper.
On 7 April, JYSK Nordic opens its first store in Serbia, in Subotica.
In 2011, Lars Larsen was ranked as the 304th richest person in the world, in the American business magazine; Forbes, which calculates Lars Larsen's assets to $ 3.6 billion.

2010

On 19 November JYSK opens its first HYPER-store in the Polish city of Lodz.
On 15 November JYSK Denmark launches a web-shop.
In September JYSK’s staff magazine - GO JYSK – was awarded staff magazine 2010 in Denmark. A month later GO JYSK was awarded the second best staff magazine in Europe.
In April this year, JYSK was granted the title of Purveyor of Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark.
On 29 April, JYSK Nordic opens its first two stores in China in Shanghai. Watch our film from the opening of the first store in China here.
On 25 March, JYSK Nordic opens its first two stores in Bosnia-Hercegovina in Sarajevo and Vitez.

2009

On 3 April, DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER opens its first three stores in Spain, in Ondara and Gandia near Valencia, and in Cartagena near Murcia.
On 2 April, DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER opens its first store in Italy, in Serravalle Scrivia near Genoa.
On 2 April, JYSK celebrates its 30th anniversary.
On 26 March, JYSK Nordic opens its first store in Croatia in Zadar.

2004 - 2008

2008

JYSK Nordic opens Northern Europe's largest warehouse in Uldum in Mid-Jutland. The warehouse currently has an area of 64,000 m2.
On 29 May, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Macedonia in Tetovo.
On 10 April, JYSK Nordic opens its first two stores in Slovenia, in Murska Sobota and Brezice.
On 4 April, JYSK Nordic opens its first two stores in the UK, in Lincoln and Mansfield.

2007

On 17 November, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Albania, in the capital city of Tirana.
In July, JYSK Franchise closes for the second time in Russia.
On 15 June, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Dubai, which was closed again in 2008.
On 11 June, Lars Larsen receives King Frederik IX's Honorary Award which is presented by His Royal Highness Prince Henrik in recognition of Lars Larsen's valuable contribution to Danish export.
On 10 May, DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER opens its first store in France just outside Paris.
On 15 March, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Romania in Oradea.

2006

On 20 November, Lars Larsen has a street named after him. The Municipality of Torring-Uldum dedicates Lars Larsens Vej to him as a means of thanking JYSK for building Northern Europe's largest warehouse in Uldum in Mid-Jutland.
JYSK Nordic opens a new warehouse in Radomsko, Poland. The warehouse currently has an area of 40,000 m2.
On 26 October, JYSK Nordic opens its first store in Slovakia in Trenčin.
On 28 September, JYSK Nordic opens its first four stores in Holland, in Arnhem, Zoetermeer, Heerhugowaard and Lelystad.
On 26 August, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Kazakhstan in Almaty.
On 30 March, DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER opens its first two stores in Switzerland, in Baar and Bulach.

2005

On 1 September, store number 1,000 opens in the German town of Dingolfing.
In July, JYSK Franchise opens up for the second time in Russia in Moscow.
On 19 May, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Bulgaria in Plovdiv.
On 7 April, JYSK Nordic opens its first store in Hungary in Fot, outside of Budapest.

2004

On 29 October, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Ukraine in Kyiv.
On 2 April, JYSK celebrates its 25th anniversary, and Lars Larsen sends out 2.4 million copies of his autobiography to all Danish households.
On 12 February, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Kosovo in Pristina.

1999 - 2003

2003

On 30 April, JYSK Nordic opens its first store in the Czech Republic in Prague.

2002

In June, Lars Larsen is nominated "World Entrepreneur of the Year" in the accountancy firm Ernst & Young's internationally recognised growth creation competition.
In September, the stores in Norway change their name from NORSK SENGETØYLAGER to JYSK.
On 7 June, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Estonia in Tallinn.

2001

In November, Lars Larsen is named Entrepreneur of the Year in Denmark.
On 26 April, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Lithuania in Vilnius.
JYSK receives the Gift to the Earth award from the World Wildlife Fund for its work with the Tropical Forest Trust, which JYSK co-founded in 1999.
In April, stores in Denmark, Sweden and Finland change their name from JYSK SENGETØJSLAGER, JYSK BÄDDLAGER and JYSK VUODEVARASTO to JYSK.

2000

JYSK Nordic opens a warehouse in Nassjö in Sweden. The warehouse currently has an area of 55,000 m2.
Lars Larsen becomes the majority shareholder of the furniture company Bolia.com.
JYSK Bed’n Linen closes in the United States.
On 4 April, DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER opens its first store in Austria in Vocklabruck.
On 25 March, JYSK Nordic opens its first store in Poland in Gdansk.
On January 1st JYSK’s founder and owner, Mr. Lars Larsen, officially steps down as CEO of JYSK and becomes executive chairman of JYSK Holding. Meanwhile, Mr. Jan Bøgh is promoted from purchasing manager to CEO of JYSK Nordic.

1999

On 1 July, JYSK Franchise enters into partnership with the furniture store Muebles Piramides Puerto in Malaga, Spain.
JYSK SENGETØJSLAGER co-founds the Tropical Forest Trust, which works to secure the tropical rain forests.

1989 - 1998

1998

Larsen Travel is acquired by the Swiss company Kuoni.
Lars Larsen celebrates his 50th birthday on 6 August.
In May, JYSK Franchise closes in Russia.

1997

DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER opens a warehouse in Zarrentin, Germany. The warehouse currently has an area of 86,800 m2.

1996

On 7 June, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Latvia in Riga.
In May, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Russia in Moscow.
On 10 February, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Canada, in Coquitlam outside Vancouver.
DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER's three-year trainee course commences. Currently, approximately 500 trainees complete the course every year.
NORSK SENGETØYLAGER's two-year trainee course commences. Currently, approximately 80 trainees complete the course every year.

1995

On 4 May, JYSK VUODEVARASTO opens its first store in Finland in Turku.

1994

DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER opens a warehouse in Homberg, Germany with a current area of 64,200 m2.

1992

On 14 March, the first JYSK Bed'n Linen opens in the United States, in Shrewsbury, south of New York City.
JYSK SENGETØJSLAGER's two-year trainee course commences in Strandby near the Liim Fiord in Denmark. Currently, approximately 200 trainees complete the course every year.

1991

On 1 May, JYSK BÄDDLAGER opens its first store in Sweden in Malmö.

1990

Lars Larsen sets up Larsen Travel, which sells budget package holidays for destinations around the world.

1989

JYSK SENGETØJSLAGER becomes main sponsor of the Danish Disabled Athletics Association and remains its main sponsor to this day. Later JYSK also becomes the main sponsor for disabled sports associations in Norway and Sweden. JYSK Franchise also supports disabled sport in Canada, the Faroe Islands and Iceland.

1979 - 1988

1988

On 22 September, NORSK SENGETØYLAGER opens its first store in Norway in Stavanger.
A year after the successful regional advertisements, Mr. Lars Larsen can be seen in nationwide TV commercials on TV 2. He is among the very first of the Danish business owners to use himself and his profile in a commercial way.

1987

On 8 October, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Iceland in Reykjavik.
JYSK’s founder and owner, Mr. Lars Larsen, is among the first in Denmark to use TV commercials when he appears on regional TV channel ‘TV South’. His ‘great offers’ lead to success for JYSK.

1986

On 2 October, JYSK Franchise opens in the Faroe Islands.
Lars Larsen becomes partner of Himmerland Golf & Country Club.

1984

On 31 March, DÄNISCHES BETTENLAGER opens its first store in Germany in Flensborg.
On 12 April, JYSK Franchise opens its first store in Greenland, in Nuuk.

1980

The company's first advertising supplement is released.

1979

On 2 April, the world's first JYSK SENGETØJSLAGER opens in Aarhus, Denmark, where it still operates today.