The history of Nordfrim

For over 50 years, Nordfrim has supplied collectors with stamps, coins, and accessories worldwide.
The company now has more than one million customers in its database.

1965
Nordfrim, originally known as Nordfyns Frimærkehandel, is founded by Erling Daugaard. Nordfrim's headquarters has always been on Nordfyn in Erling Daugaard’s childhood home, which has since been significantly expanded to handle their growth.

1973
The wholesale department launches to supply stamps dealers, booksellers, and malls with stamp packets, accessories, and other items.

1976
Nordfrim now becomes an exclusive agent in Denmark for the leading accessory brand Leuchtturm GmbH. Leuchtturm GmbH is known for its pre-printed albums and stockbooks, among other things. Later, the wholesale department expanded its agencies with essential catalogue dealers like Michel, Yvert & Tellier, and the backing film manufacturer Hawid.
In the following years, the agencies allow the wholesale department to expand significantly, and wholesale remains an essential part of the business.

1983
Erling Daugaard signs agency agreements with the postal services of Gibraltar and the UN, which becomes the first agencies in a portfolio which expands considerably in the following years.

1986
Nordfrim enters an agreement with the British postal service, Royal Mail, in which Nordfrim now becomes an agent for Royal Mail in Scandinavia. The agency becomes the first significant step toward the new issues section, which has since become the largest in the philatelic world.

1990
Nordfrim further strengthens its position in the market by purchasing the new issues department (subscriptions to countries and thematics) and the postal order department (stamps and accessories) from the Swedish company Frimärkshuset. During the next six months, the takeover also means that the department for agencies in Nordfrim almost doubles as Nordfrim acquires 100% of the shares in the Swedish company.

1994
After several years of primarily focusing on Scandinavian countries, Nordfrim takes a significant step into the French market with around 60 million potential customers. In preparation for the entry, Nordfrim had to do extensive market research on the potential of the new market.

1995-1996
As a result of the significant expansion and as part of the company's long-term strategy, the buildings are undergoing total refurbishment and renovation these years. The renovation will begin in March 1995, and at the beginning of 1996, the new premises will be operational. The company now has 2,630 m2 - more than twice as much as before.

1997
Nordfrim takes another vital step out into the world. At the beginning of 1997, Champion Holding A/S is founded. They buy the highly reputable company founded in 1902, Théodore Champion S.A. With this, Nordfrim takes a significant step into the French market. With the acquisition, the company now has 20 employees in Paris. Nordfrim Group also takes over the publication of Bulletin Mensuel, which since 1902 has catalogued all new publications.

2000
In the spring of 2000, Nordfrim takes over the leading Danish catalogue publisher, AFA. The previous owner decided to cease publishing the catalogues, so Nordfrim Group chose to step in to ensure that Scandinavian collectors continue to assess their collections based on the catalogues AFA Denmark, AFA Scandinavia, AFA Eastern Europe, and AFA Western Europe.
Further, the takeover of AFA means that Nordfrim also takes over the publication of the monthly supplement to the catalogues, Populær Filateli, which lists all new publications in the European countries.

2002
Théodore Champion celebrates its 100th anniversary with a party in Paris, where the company has been based throughout its life.
Further, the company's shop in Rué Druout, the historic center of the stamp trade in Paris, will reopen its doors in 2004.

2003
The group of companies is being expanded to the north when Finnish Lauri Peltonen OY is acquired. With the purchase, the group now has five employees in the Finnish city of Hanko. Lauri Peltonen is established in 1920 and pivots around new releases, classic stamps, and the sale of accessories.

2004
With the acquisition of the Société des Philatélistes, the position in the French market strengthens. A company that has been selling stamps by mail order to the French market for 25 years and thus has a solid customer database and a good annual turnover.

2005
The Hungarian company Philatelia Hungarica, is acquired by the Nordfrim Group, in 2005. The company was founded in 1950 by the Hungarian Post Office to sell stamps in Hungary and abroad. Philatelia Hungarica transforms into a private company in 1993, with several former employees at the helm. In addition to having a significant stock, Philatelia Hungarica now solves a multitude of tasks for postal services and other philatelic companies, including setting up stamps and other tasks requiring precision. Employees: 25 employees + 350 domestic workers

2006
The group increases its stock significantly with the acquisition of Filatelia International, which has had good cooperation with several postal services on the design and printing of stamps since 1976, including the Cuban postal service. The Nordfrim Group takes over Filatelia International's stock of just over two billion stamps.
The same year, the Kopilanski warehouse (now Champion Philatélie Swiss) in Punto Franco is acquired, which contains many compelling publications from South America.

2007
The most significant expansion in Nordfrim Group's recent history takes place this year, with the acquisition of Philagroup. The company was established in 1970 to supply Italian stamp collectors with new issues. The company expanded rapidly. At the time of the takeover, they had departments in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland and contracts with around 70 postal services worldwide, of which just over 20 percent are brand new areas.
With the acquisition of Philagroup, Nordfrim Group becomes the world-leading supplier of new stamp issues to collectors.

2010
The Nordfrim Group expands its position on the market for new releases with the acquisition of the longstanding, renowned German company, Georg Roll. In partnership with Philagentur, Georg Roll dominates the market for new stamp issues, and after the acquisition, Georg Roll is incorporated within Philagentur in Germany.
Further, the Nordfrim Group takes a significant step into the exciting Dutch market with the establishment of the company Collect Wereld.

2011
One year after the founding of Collect Wereld, the Dutch part of the Nordfrim Group enters an agreement with the Dutch postal service. Collect Wereld is now responsible for delivering older Dutch stamps directly to the approximately 160,000 customers of the Dutch postal service.

2012
With its solid and stable market position in Europe, the eyes of Nordfrim Group are fixed on new horizons, and work is ongoing to expand to other countries/continents where there is potential.

2013
A generational transition begins as Lars Daugaard, son of founder Erling Daugaard, takes over as the owner and CEO at Nordfrim.

2024 →
Founder Erling Daugaard passes away in May 2024. 
In August 2024, Lars Daugaard steps down as CEO, and Lisbeth Achton-Boel takes over the position. Lars continues as owner and chairman of the board.