Company history: 1915-1930

In its early years Lundbeck was solely a trading company, supplying the Danes with everything from synthetic sugar to silver paper. Hans Lundbeck had traded butter since returning home to Denmark in 1912 after a long stay abroad. But he now wanted his business to include other products as well, yet still reap the advantages of remaining small.

His company was based on the principle that no business was too small, provided that it did good business. During the early years, Lundbeck's agencies utilized everything from machinery for the manufacture of biscuits and confectionery and saccharin, to cinematic and photographic equipment, photographic paper, and aluminium foil.

 

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	In the early years Lundbeck moved several times in central Copehagen. One of the company's addresses was Nørregade 45.

The business community in neutral Denmark flowered like never before while the First World War raged over large parts of Europe. State regulation of the economy, coupled with the opportunity to earn good money from trade with the countries that were at war, encouraged many people like Hans Lundbeck to establish their own companies.

Since goods were delivered directly to customers, most of Hans Lundbeck's work was done at his desk. There was no real production or manual labour, apart from vacuum cleaning in private homes, which was a significant source of revenue during the company's earliest years, along with vacuum cleaner rentals. The Danish Krone was revalued after the war, making imported goods cheaper.

Hans Lundbeck's business grew and he began to mix colours and essences, which he sold to chocolate manufacturers and bakeries. However, most products were still imported ready-packed. Lundbeck remained primarily a trading company, based on personal contacts with manufacturers in other European countries and the USA.

 

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Hans Nicolai Claus Christian Lundbeck (1885-1943)	 Eduard Goldsmidt (1901-1950)

Eduard Goldschmidt was recruited in 1924, beginning Lundbeck's ascent in the pharmaceutical industry. He brought several agencies for medicines into the company with him. Among the first preparations Lundbeck introduced to the Danish market were the suppository Anusol, for haemorrhoids, the painkiller Gelonida®, the laxative Agarol, and Inotyol, for the treatment of small cuts and minor burns. Goldschmidt also introduced over-the-counter products from Germany and France that promised quick relief from a wide variety of illnesses.

 

As an agent for foreign comapnies, Lundbeck sold a wide variety of medicines.

Cosmetics and toiletries were considered by-products in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals at that time. So it was wholly natural for Lundbeck to supplement its range with toilet water such as Lohse Uralt Lavender and various creams, salves, baby powders, etc.

Continue to company history: 1930-1945