List of companies of Iceland explained

Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of and an area of 103000km2, making it the most sparsely populated country in all of Europe.[1] The capital and largest city is Reykjavík. Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active.

Iceland has a market economy with relatively low taxes compared to other OECD countries.[2] It maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens.[3] Iceland ranks high in economic, political and social stability and equality. In 2013, it was ranked as the 13th most-developed country in the world by the United Nations' Human Development Index.[4] Iceland runs almost completely on renewable energy. Affected by the ongoing worldwide financial crisis, the nation's entire banking system systemically failed in October 2008, leading to a severe depression, substantial political unrest, the Icesave dispute, and the institution of capital controls. Many bankers were jailed,[5] and the economy has made a significant recovery, in large part due to a surge in tourism.[6] [7] [8]

As of 2011, there are approximately 32,500 companies registered in Iceland of which 14,500 (45%) are active.[9]

Notable firms

This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.

NameRegistered nameIndustrySectorHeadquartersFoundedNotes
365365 - miðlar ehfConsumer servicesMediaReykjavík1986Broadcaster
AdvaniaAdvania ehfTechnologySoftwareReykjavík2012Information technology
Air IcelandFlugfélag Íslands ehfConsumer servicesTravel & leisureReykjavík1997Airline; merged with Icelandair
Arctic TrucksArctic Trucks Ísland ehfIndustrialsCommercial vehicles & trucksReykjavík1990 Exploration and commercial vehicles
ÁTVRÁfengis- og tóbaksverslun ríkisinsConsumer servicesRetailReykjavík1998Alcohol/tobacco state monopoly
BónusBónusConsumer servicesRetailReykjavík1989No-frills supermarket
Carbon Recycling International (CRI)Carbon Recycling InternationalOil & gasAlternative energyReykjavík2006Renewable methanol
CCP GamesCCP hfTechnologySoftwareReykjavík1997Video game developer
DagsbrúnDagsbrún ehfConglomeratesReykjavík2003Telecommunications, media, security
deCODE geneticsÍslensk erfðagreining ehfHealth careBiotechnologyReykjavík1996Gene research
Egill Skallagrímsson BreweryÖlgerðin Egils SkallagrímssonConsumer goodsFood & beverageReykjavík1913 Brewery
Eimskipafélag ÍslandsEimskipafélag Íslands hfIndustrialsMarine transportationReykjavík1914, The Icelandic Steamship Company
FRISK Software InternationalFriðrik Skúlason ehfTechnologySoftwareReykjavík1993Antivirus software
HagarHagar ehfConsumer goodsFood & beverageReykjavík2003[10] Food holding, includes Hagkaup and Bónus
HagkaupHagkaupConsumer servicesRetailReykjavík1959Hypermarket chain
HB GrandiHB Grandi hfConsumer goodsFood & beverageReykjavík2004[11] Fishing
IcelandairIcelandair ehfConsumer servicesTravel & leisureReykjavík1937Airline
Icelandair GroupIcelandair Group hfConsumer servicesTravel & leisureReykjavík1937Travel and tourism group
ÍslandsbankiÍslandsbanki hfFinancialsBanksReykjavík2008State-owned bank
ÍslandspósturÍslandspóstur hfIndustrialsIndustrial transportationReykjavík1776Postal services/shipping
LandsbankiLandsbankiFinancialsBanksReykjavík1885Defunct 2008
LandsbankinnNBI hfFinancialsBanksReykjavík2008State-owned bank
Mannvit EngineeringMannvit hfIndustrialsIndustrial engineeringReykjavík1963Engineering and consulting
MarelMarel hfIndustrialsIndustrial machineryGarðabær1983
MarorkaMarorka ehfTechnologySoftwareReykjavík2002Energy management software and research
MP BankMP Banki hfFinancialsBanksReykjavík2003Investment/commercial bank
Nói SíríusNói-Siríus hfConsumer goodsFood & beverageReykjavík1920Chocolates
NyherjiNýherji hfTechnologyComputer servicesReykjavík1992Computer services, software consulting
OssurÖssur hfHealth careMedical EquipmentReykjavík1971
PromensPromens hfIndustrialsGeneral industrialsKópavogur1984Packaging, plastics
RÚVRíkisútvarpið ohfConsumer servicesMediaReykjavík1930The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service
SíminnSíminn hfTelecommunicationsFixed line telecommunicationsReykjavík1906Also provide mobile telecom
Sláturfélag SuðurlandsSláturfélag Suðurlands svfConsumer goodsFood & beverageReykjavík1907Food producer co-op
TerisTerisTechnologySoftwareKópavogur1989Financial software
Solid CloudsSolid Clouds hfTechnologySoftwareReykjavík2013Video game developer
TulipopTulipop ehf. Consumer goodsRetailReykjavík2010Lifestyle brand
Vodafone IcelandFjarskipti hfTelecommunicationsMobile TelecommunicationsReykjavík2003Vodafone (UK) branded firm
WOW airWow Air ehf.Consumer servicesTravel & leisureReykjavík2011Low-cost airline, defunct 2019

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statistics Iceland. Statistics Iceland. Government. The National Statistical Institute of Iceland. 14 September 2008. 14 September 2008.
  2. Web site: OECD Tax Database . Oecd.org . 26 January 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100125144548/http://www.oecd.org/document/60/0%2C2340%2Cen_2649_34533_1942460_1_1_1_1%2C00.html . 25 January 2010 .
  3. Web site: The Icelandic Welfare State and the Conditions of Children . Ólafsson . Stefán . 12 May 2004 . borg.hi.is . 22 April 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050818131819/http://www.borg.hi.is/ChildWelfare . 18 August 2005 .
  4. Web site: 2015 Human Development Report . 2015 . 14 December 2015 . United Nations Development Programme .
  5. Web site: If Iceland Can Jail Bankers For The Crash Then Why Can't America?. Tim. Worstall. forbes.com.
  6. Web site: Iceland's Stabilized Economy Is A Surprising Success Story . Greenstein . Tracey . 20 February 2013 . Forbes. 11 April 2014.
  7. Web site: Out of the Abyss: Looking for Lessons in Iceland's Recovery . Mingels . Guido . 10 January 2014 . Der Spiegel. 11 April 2014.
  8. Web site: Iceland rises from the ashes of banking collapse . Bowers . Simon . 6 November 2013 . The Guardian. 11 April 2014.
  9. Web site: Áttundi hver Íslendingur situr í stjórn fyrirtækis. 11 May 2011. Icelandic. One of every eight Icelanders is a member of a board of directors. 11 May 2011. Viðskiptaráð tekur fram að samkvæmt fyrirtækjaskrá eru starfrækt 32.500 fyrirtæki en af þeim áætlar Creditinfo að um 14.500 séu virk..
  10. http://quotes.wsj.com/IS/HAGA/company-people HAGA.IS Company Profile & Executives - Hagar Hf. - Wall Street Journal
  11. http://quotes.wsj.com/IS/GRND/company-people GRND.IS Company Profile & Executives - HB Grandi hf. - Wall Street Journal