Varner-Gruppen

Infobox Company
name = Varner-Gruppen AS

type = Private
genre =
foundation = 1962
founder = Frank Varner
location_city = Oslo
location_country = Norway
location =
locations =
area_served = Northern Europe
key_people =
industry = Retail
products =
services =
revenue = NOK 7,609 million (2006)
operating_income = NOK 895 million (2006)
net_income = NOK 648 million (2006)
owner = Turid Varner
Marius Varner
Petter Varner
Joakim Varner
num_employees = 7,442
parent =
divisions =
subsid =
slogan =
homepage = [http://www.varner.no www.varner.no]
footnotes =
intl =

Varner-Gruppen AS is the largest actor in the textile retailing trade in Norway with approximately 500 stores around the country, including Bik Bok, Carlings, Cubus, Dressmann, Solo, Urban, Vivikes, Wearhouse and WOW. The stores are located throughout Scandinavia, the Baltic Countries, Germany and Poland. The group has more than 1,100 stores in total, and operates all of them themselves, without the use of franchising.

History

Varner-Gruppen was founded by Frank Varner in 1962 when he opened his first store. Five years later he launched the Dressmann chain. In 1985 the group entered women's clothing, with the launch of Carlings. This was followed by the purchase of Cubus (1989), Bik Bok (1991) and Vivikes (1994). During the later part of the 2000s Varner has had an average store growth of about 80 outlets. The company has since been taken over by Frank Varner's children Marius Varner, Petter Varner and Joakim Varner. The company is privately held and unlisted.