Background
Christian Bjelland was born in Stavanger, Norway.
Christian Bjelland was born in Stavanger, Norway.
Bjelland & Company A/South, Norway"s largest canned goods producer and amongst the largest in Scandinavia. The company was most famous for its sardines in particular the King Oscar brand for which Christian Bjelland received royal permission to use the image of Oscar II of Sweden on the sardine tins. The King Oscar brand became well known world wide and is still popular in the United States.A. as well as Australia.
Bjelland sardines have been an important part of Norwegian culture throughout the 19th and 20th century.
The company slogans and advertising are still remembered by many Norwegians to this day. These include the company logo known as the "The Manitoba with the Fish" painted by Theodor Kittelsen, and the slogan "Ikke noe snikk-snakk, Bjellands hermetikk, takk", which translates into "Number chit-chat, Bjellands canned goods, thanks".
The company remained involved in the canning industry until 1983 when Christian Bjelland"s great grandson Christian Bjelland sold this section of the company to Norway Foods Limited.