European Enterprise Award 2020

16 EU BUSINESS NEWS / 2020 European Enterprise Awards , Best Blade Grinding Mill – Sweden With a past steeped in history, renowned Swedish knife sharpener, Knivbrev AB, is head and shoulders above the rest.We speak toHenrikOrwander about the firmand the recent surge in business it has experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dec20088 As Sweden's largest professional sharpening company, Knivbrev AB sharpens an average of 1000-1500 knives daily for its 175,000 private individuals and 10,000 professional chefs, restaurants, catering companies, grocery stores and many more. The firm operates by sending out what are called ‘knife letters’ – these being envelopes containing transport-approved patented guards for sharp blades, so that knives can be safely and securely posted back to Knivbrev for sharpening, before being dispatched home to their owners again. “All knives need to be sharpened - sooner or later,” explains Managing Director of Knivbrev, Henrik Orwander. “Our business is therefore not something new, on the contrary - a profession that is several 1,000 years old and a natural part of a knife's life cycle. In the past, this profession was also very large in Sweden.” Henrik is keen to explain that the knife letter does not replace sharpening steel or the home grinder. They are still tools that need to be used at regular intervals to keep the knife sharp for as long as possible. When the edge has regained the shape of a U, it must be resubmitted and even a broken knife can be sharpened. However the knife letter is a patented invention and really goes a long way to set the firm aside from competitors in its field. Speaking of the recent surge in business that the firm has experienced Henrik says: “Today, the industry is growing again as our food interest has now become large again after years of fast food. “People spend a lot more time at home working and keeping distance because of Covid which means that the stay-at-home cooking instead of going to restaurants. People become more interested in cooking and therefore they also see the benefit of sharp knives.” Henrik also notes that people have been realising the potential of good and expensive knives whilst they have been doing a lot of home cooking, and so have invested in the pricier brands, made of quality steel, which need more care and looking after. Regarding the future, Henrik sees great development for the firm. Having already been well-established in Sweden, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, Knivbrev has expansive plans to start up in the United States in 2021. In the meantime, Henrik is always on the look-out for new recruits. “Ultimately, we look for doers. People that has a great talent for details. Our best sharpeners are artists who are trained in working with art and metal.” Company: Knivbrev AB Contact: Henrik Orwander Website: www.Knivbrev.se As Sweden's largest professional sharpening company, Knivbrev AB sharpens an average of 1000-1500 knives daily for its 175,000 private individuals and 10,000 professional chefs, restaurants, catering companies, grocery stores and many more.