Founder of JYSK Lars Larsen has passed away

The tradesman, who dedicated his life to building our company and always providing a great offer to customers around the world, is no longer among us.

This morning 19 August, founder of JYSK, Lars Larsen, has passed at age 71.

Lars Larsen – or The Tradesman, as he was known among colleagues – passed away quietly in his home near Silkeborg, Denmark, surrounded by his closest family.

Before his death, Lars Larsen played a key role in the celebration of JYSK’s 40th anniversary, which in line with his spirit was marked with yet another milestone, when he personally cut the ribbon to open the first JYSK store in Ireland, thereby completing the presence of JYSK in all major European countries.

2019 was also the year in which Lars Larsen could celebrate the first 40th employee anniversary in the company he founded in 1979.

Our journey continues

As founder of JYSK, Lars Larsen was the face of the company until June 2019, when after being diagnosed with liver cancer, he passed on the role as Chairman of Lars Larsen Group to his son, Jacob Brunsborg.

And even though Lars Larsen is no longer among us, the tradesmanship will continue as the core value of JYSK, which has been the case since Lars Larsen opened the first store.

For the story of our founder, an entrepreneur in the purest form, is also the story about a boy born as the last of four siblings. He grew up in poverty in Thy (in northern Denmark) without a father and with an ill mother, whom Lars Larsen in many cases had to take care of.

“Lars Larsen has proved that anything is possible if you work hard. Our company is made through his dedication, resilience and will to keep fighting to make JYSK the world’s most widespread and profitable chain of stores,” says Jan Bøgh, CEO & President in JYSK.

Expansion is still key

Lars Larsen’s journey began with one store in Aarhus, Denmark, and developed into an international chain with more than 2,800 stores and 23,000 employees in 52 countries. All that in just 40 years. It is a journey that we are all part of and which we will all contribute to continuing.

“Expansion has always been the essence of JYSK, and in 2017 Lars Larsen made it clear that we need to double the number of stores to 5,000 stores worldwide. Of course we will continue our dedicated efforts to make that come true,” says Jan Bøgh.