Swedish company Ljusgårda continues their growth journey by securing a new partnership with Dagab, one of the food retail groups in Sweden. Ljusgårda's lettuce will now also be available through three additional major Swedish grocery chains: Hemköp, Willys, and Tempo. Simultaneously, the company has appointed Magnus Agervald as the new CEO and Hélène Gustavii as CFO.
In less than a year, Ljusgårda has tripled its sales from 3.8 tons to 11.8 tons of lettuce per month. Distribution has grown to over 230 ICA stores (Sweden's leading grocery retailer), and sales per store are continuously increasing. Most recently, the Swedish-grown salads also became available through Mathem, Sweden's leading online grocery store. With the new Dagab-agreement in place, Ljusgårda will more than triple their distribution network, with an additional 550 stores, and be available for purchase throughout the country from September 14.
Ljusgårda takes the next step
Ljusgårda's growth strategy has produced fast and strong results in recent years. In line with the company's growth plan, co-founder Andreas Wilhelmsson is now transitioning into his new role as Chief Strategy Officer and therefore welcomes Magnus Agervald as the new CEO. Magnus was most recently the interim CEO at Premium Snacks, a company specializing in developing and distributing snacks to both retail and HoReCa in several Nordic and European markets. As an entrepreneur, he is also co-founder of the mobile internet company Icomera and the AI-based price analysis company Panprices.com.
Magnus Agervald
"It's fantastic to be able to welcome Magnus and Hélène to the team and thereby securing two more important pieces in the puzzle of designing a world-class management team. In my new role, I will focus on our strategic partnerships as well as new initiatives and, in practice, act as a catalyst that ensures momentum where it is needed, the dream role for an entrepreneur like me!" says Andreas Wilhelmsson, co-founder, and Chief Strategy Officer at Ljusgårda.
Magnus Agervald has a proven track record from previous assignments, successfully driving growth combined with increased profitability. As CEO of Byggmax (retail chain offering products for home improvement), Magnus also led a strong growth journey where he took the company to the stock exchange with great success. Experiences such as these all have high relevance for Ljusgårda's strategic goals going forward.
"It feels great to have the opportunity to take Ljusgårda further on its growth journey. The Ljusgårda team has achieved something fantastic, and it will be a lot of fun to continue to develop the company together with them. The Dagab agreement gives us an even stronger presence in the market, and the ecosystem development work at Ljusgårda has enormous potential, not least with the help of AI optimization." says Magnus Agervald, new CEO at Ljusgårda.
Ljusgårda also announces that Hélène Gustavii will be the new CFO. Hélène most recently came from the role as CFO at Velove and has a comprehensive skillset and experience in driving growth, cash flow, and profitability in several different industries. She has over 20 years of experience in various senior roles in both listed and owner-led growth companies.
"I am very much looking forward to starting at Ljusgårda and being part of building the company for the continued growth and development journey. It also feels very encouraging to be able to contribute to a more sustainable food system and ensure a safe supply of local crops all year round," says Hélène Gustavii, incoming CFO at Ljusgårda.
Imported food accounts for 60% of the climate impact of food consumption in Sweden. With circular water systems, green electricity, and no pesticides, Ljusgårda offers consumers and traders a sustainable and locally produced alternative.
"The agreement with Dagab and a strengthened management team allows us to take the next step in our growth journey. We look forward to continuing and building Ljusgårda into a leading indoor grower that contributes to a more sustainable food supply", says Johannes Lien, chairman of Ljusgårda.
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