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    ICA AB
    Retail

    ICA AB

    Sweden flagSweden

    "Local independence, national strength"

    Founded 1938 Solna Municipality CEO: Nina Jönsson
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    About

    ICA Gruppen AB dominates the Nordic retail landscape as Sweden's largest food retailer. Founded in 1938 under the name Inköpscentralernas aktiebolag, the company transformed from a cooperative purchasing model into a massive franchise network connecting independent store owners with a central organization. The group operates across Sweden and previously held significant presence in the Baltic states before recent strategic shifts.

    The brand identity relies on distinct sub-brands to cover various shopping needs. These include ICA Nära for convenience, ICA Supermarket for standard grocery runs, ICA Kvantum for hypermarkets, and ICA Maxi for large-format stores. Beyond groceries, the ecosystem extends into banking services, real estate management, and pharmacy chains through its ownership of Apotek Hjärtat.

    Recent years have brought significant leadership changes and operational pivots. Nina Jönsson took over as CEO in May 2022, while Peter Muld became CIO in December 2023. In March 2025, the group divested its Rimi Baltic operations to the Salling Group to focus resources on the core Swedish market. This move followed the September 2022 sale of its Forma Books division to Storytel.

    Products & Sub-brands

    ICA SupermarketICA MaxiICA KvantumICA NäraApotek Hjärtat

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does the acronym "ICA" stand for?
    ICA stands for Inköpscentralernas aktiebolag, which translates to "The Purchasing Centres Ltd." The name reflects the company's origins as a cooperative purchasing organization for independent retailers established in 1938.
    Who owns ICA and is it still in business?
    ICA is owned by a mix of independent store owners who are members of the franchise system and public shareholders via ICA Gruppen AB, listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Yes, the company is fully operational and remains Sweden's leading grocery retailer.
    What is the difference between ICA and Coop?
    ICA and Coop are Sweden's two largest competing grocery chains; ICA operates primarily as a franchise network of independent owners, whereas Coop is largely a member-owned cooperative (Konsumentföreningarna). Both offer similar product ranges but differ in ownership structure and regional dominance.
    Is ICA still expanding or selling assets?
    While historically an expansion-focused entity, ICA recently pivoted to consolidation and optimization; notably, it divested its Baltic operations (Rimi) to the Salling Group in March 2025 to concentrate resources on its core Swedish market.
    Has ICA faced any major security breaches recently?
    Yes, in early 2026, ICA suffered a significant cyberattack where hackers disabled refrigeration systems in multiple stores, causing thousands of kronor in food losses and raising concerns about critical infrastructure security.

    Keywords

    ICA GruppenSwedish RetailGrocery StoresFranchise NetworkApotek Hjärtat

    Sources

    About ICA GruppenNina Jönsson Appointed CEORimi Baltic DivestmentICA Hacker Attack CoveragePeter Muld New CIO

    Company Info

    Founded
    1938
    CEO
    Nina Jönsson
    Headquarters
    Solna Municipality
    Industry
    Retail
    Parent Company
    ICA Gruppen AB
    CEO Appointment
    May 2022
    Baltic Divestment
    March 2025

    Official Website

    www.ica.se

    Links

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