More than 200 years history
Only a small number of Danish companies can look back on more than 200 years of history. House of Oliver Twist is one of them.
The company’s origins date back to 1805, when tobacco manufacturer Peter Abraham Bock advertised his tobacco factory in the local press.
Since then, House of Oliver Twist A/S has gone through several changes in ownership and is now owned by AGA HK ApS, a company affiliated with the Gundersen tobacco business, led by Alex Gundersen.
1805
Peter Abraham Bock inserts an ad in the Danish daily Kiøbenhavnske Tidender for his tobacco spinning works when he takes it over, following the death of this father. This is the official year of the founding of A/S Hermann Krüger’s Eftf. – House of Oliver Twist A/S.
1810
Bock dies of ague in November. Tobacco spinner Hans Henrich Groth is granted a trade license in July and buys the company the same year.
1828
The ownership of the company is transferred to Nicolai Frederik Bonnesen, who has worked for Groth since he was 13. The Tobacco Spinners’ Guild grants him a trade license as a tobacco spinner.
1873
Nicolai Jacob Bonnesen carries on the business of running the factory.
1877
Johannes Christian Hansen joins the company as co-owner.
1916
The company Hermann Krüger (N.F. Bonnesens Eftf.) is transformed into a joint-stock company with Erik Peter Stokkebye as CEO. He is already the CEO of a tobacco factory in Odense.
1927
Stokkebye and Krüger move into A. Jensens Damp Tobak- og Cigarfabrik, Overgade 20 in Odense. The production in Copenhagen ceases.
1968
The British Gallaher group acquires Stokkebye in order to gain a foothold in the Danish pipe and tobacco market. Peter Stokkebye continues as CEO. The tobacco spinning mill survives.
1974
The Gallaher group ceases its production of pipe and chewing tobacco in Denmark. The department for chewing tobacco is sold to some of the senior managers of Stokkebye. The managers Børge Drest Nielsen and Erling Thobo-Carlsen become the owners of Hermann Krüger’s Eftf. ApS with non-smoke tobacco of the brand Oliver Twist as its speciality.
1975
The company’s share of chewing tobacco in Denmark amounts to 13%.
1980
The company is transformed into a joint stock company with a share capital of DKK 300,000. The company moves to new and larger premises on Børstenbindervej, also in Odense.
1987
The company hires the son Michael Drest Nielsen as its food technician.
1988
House of Oliver Twist A/S now produces approximately 35% of all chewing tobacco made in Denmark.
1991
Børge Drest Nielsen becomes the sole owner.
1992
The name House of Oliver Twist A/S is registered as the name used in the day-to-day business. However, Hermann Krüger’s Eftf. A/S still exists as a registered name in the Danish company register.
2002
Børge Drest Nielsen becomes chairman of the board, and his son Michael Drest Nielsen assumes the position of CEO.
2005
Oliver Twist company celebrates its 200th anniversary.
2007
A sales force is established in Denmark.
2009
Peer Dyhr assumes the position of CEO, and Michael Drest Nielsen continues as a member of the management.
2013
A sales force is established in Sweden.
2016
House of Oliver Twist is the world leader in the area of spun smokeless tobacco.
2017
Børge Drest Nielsen resigns from the board.
2018
Swedish Match AB acquires House of Oliver Twist A/S.
2022
Philip Morris International acquires Swedish Match,
and House of Oliver Twist becomes part of the world’s
leading international tobacco company.
2025
House of Oliver Twist A/S is acquired by AGA HK ApS, a company affiliated with Alex Gundersen’s tobacco business, Gundersen.
