Christian Bjelland I

Christian Bjelland (30 May 1858 – 9 May 1927) was the founder of Chr. Bjelland & Co A/S, Norway's largest canned goods producer and amongst the largest in Scandinavia. Christian Bjelland is the name that most people in Norway would associate with Stavanger as well as the canning industry.

Christian Bjelland was born in Stavanger, Norway. He was one of the great industrialists of his time and in 1907 was made a Knight, 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for his contribution to building Norwegian industry.

Company

The company was most famous for its sardines in particular the King Oscar brand for which Christian Bjelland received royal permission to use the image of Oscar II of Sweden on the sardine tins. The King Oscar brand became well known world wide and is still popular in the U.S.A. as well as Australia. Bjelland sardines have been an important part of Norwegian culture throughout the 19th and 20th century. The company slogans and advertising are still remembered by many Norwegians to this day. These include the company logo known as the "The Man with the Fish" painted by Theodor Kittelsen, and the slogan "Ikke noe snikk-snakk, Bjellands hermetikk, takk", which translates into "No chit-chat, Bjellands canned goods, thanks".

The company remained involved in the canning industry until 1983 when Christian Bjelland's great grandson Christian Bjelland sold this section of the company to Norway Foods Ltd.