Email: sk@ducc.co.uk
DFDS Tor Line operates primarily in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea and has subsidiaries in Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.
DFDS Tor Line has approximately 67 Ro-Ro, Ro-Pax, Lo-Lo and multipurpose vessels. DFDS Tor Line’s main customers are international transport, shipping companies, large manufacturers of industrial goods and automotive manufacturers whose logistics include a significant element of transport by sea.
DFDS Tor Line PLC in Immingham offers a comprehensive stevedoring and cargo handling service round the clock 24/7. The terminal was recently extended by 200,000 sq m in an investment programme that has seen a further three berths. The terminal now covers a total area of 720,000 sq m and has a total of six ro-ro berths. It has a warehouse capacity of approximately 80,000 sq m and is forecast to handle a total of five million lane metres of freight in 2006.
For further information on DFDS Tor Line PLC please www.dfdstorline.com or telephone +44 1469 575231.
OLLY OLSON OPENS IN SOHO
Olly Olson is London’s first restaurant, coffee shop and takeaway serving authentic street food from Scandinavia, Belgium and Holland. It is situated in the heart of Soho at 132 Wardour Street, London W1, 300m from Oxford Street. The food is sourced from northern Europe and from some of London’s premier organic suppliers.
At breakfast there are free-range bacon and organic sausage sandwiches. At lunch, and in the evening, sample authentic imported hot dog sausages from Sweden, Denmark, and Holland. Try an authentic Danish Polse hotdog, served with fresh and crispy onion, and remoulade.
Other hot sandwiches include Danish frikadeller with pickles and brown sauce, and Swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam. Olly Olson also serves organic cold sandwiches and salads, as well as organic soup. There is a wide selection of desserts, including freshly made waffles and cakes to accompany Danish Coffee or fresh juice. For a copy of the menu, visit our website at www.ollyolson.com.
Olly Olson is the second venture by David Bittiner and Andrew Curtis of Nordic Bar. For further information please call David Bittiner on 07768 892260, or email him at dave@nordicbar.com
In Europe, all the top designers, models and fashionistas strut their stuff on red carpets and runways throughout the month of February. This week Copenhagen Fashion Week is kicking off, followed by London, Milan and Paris.
Danish Fashion Institute is the official organizer behind Copenhagen Fashion Week. Held twice a year, over 40,000 buyers, designers and press pursue the Danish capital from around the world for a preview of new talent and the seasonal trends. Red Letter caught Anne Christine Persson, head of communication for Danish Fashion Institute, in one of her busiest weeks of the year for a chat about the role of Danish Fashion Institute to Danish designers, and about Danish Fashion in the UK.
Building Bridges
According to Danish Fashion Institute the ambition for the players in Danish fashion is to bridge the gap between the successful industry and the growth layer, thus stimulating the entire infrastructure of Danish fashion. This is where Danish Fashion Institute enters the scene. Danish Fashion Institute is a newly founded network organization to promote Danish fashion. Here efforts are made to strengthen networks and stimulate growth so that Danish companies can stay ahead in the international competition.
“One of our primary objectives is to achieve international recognition for
Denmark's unique angle on aesthetics and design. Our goal is to encourage innovation, stimulate industry, and increase opportunities for potential investors in Danish design talent. Our desire is to promote Denmark as a fashion forward country - a fashion brand in itself. In doing so, we hope to add Danish fashion to Denmark's appeal as a country renowned for design” says Persson.
Today, Danish Fashion Institute has more than 85 members comprised of fashion companies, independent designers, educational establishments and other relevant institutions.
Boho-hippie feeling and positive lifestyle
When asked what makes Danish fashion successful, six words come to Anne Christine Persson’s mind: “Democratic, accessible, quality, style, dressed and functional”
These qualities are not new to UK. Danish fashion already sells well here. By Malene Birger is one of the best selling brands at Liberty, and for many years SAND was the best selling Brand at Harrods. DAY Birger et Mikkelsen is also doing very well and has opened a large flagship store on Sloane Street.
According to Danish Fashion Institute the reason why Danish fashion is successful is that it is accessible both style and price wise. It applies to working women, blending work wear and eveningwear elegantly. The boho-hippie feeling and positive lifestyles are captured in the image of Danish fashion and are attractive to men and women of the western world. Yet Danish fashion also attracts people in London for the fair priced, excellent qualities and functionalistic approach to design.
Visit Danish Fashion Institute at www.danishfashioninstitute.dk, Copenhagen Fashion Week at www.copenhagenfashionweek.com and London Fashion Week at www.londonfashionweek.co.uk
DAY Birger et Mikkelsen is one company dressed for success in the UK. The Scandinavian lifestyle clothing company is the brainchild of businessman Keld Mikkelsen, who founded the company in 1997. In September 2005 DAY Birger et Mikkelsen settled in comfortably on London's Sloane Street, where customers can buy their signature sophisticated clothes. A side from this being the first DAY Store in London it is at the same time DAY Birger et Mikkelsen’s first own store outside of Denmark, the country of the brands origin.
Why London?
It is no coincidence that DAY has chosen London to be the first store outside of Denmark. “We felt London was a key fashion capital with many International visitors, an opinion leader and a strong city to work in both within the wholesale and retail arena…” explains Jeni Elliff, Managing Director of DAY, UK.
Apparently the London consumer enjoys DAY clothing as much as the Danish consumers. Recently the UK Trade magazine Drapers
Record listed DAY Birger et Mikkelsen as one of the top 6 best selling premium womenswear labels within the UK.
According to Elliff the reasons for DAY’s international success is a design driven business, offering affordable fashion, which appeals to the London consumer where the high street is so competitive. “At DAY they can find an approachable label that bridges the key fashion t
rends, appealing to many age groups” says Elliff.
Danish roots
That DAY originates in Denmark is not without importance. Danish fashion is well recognized and enjoys a good reputation that companies like DAY take advantage of. “Danish fashion is unique and inspirational successfully mixing modern classics with vintage and bohemian looks. Danes have an amazing way of dressing and interrupting a trend, which the Brits find very desirable” says Elliff.
The free spirit in Danish designer fashion has a broad appeal to the fashion conscious modern individual, who wishes to exude style, yet keep a signature of individuality in their personal expression. That is where Danish design is sat apart from other regional styles and houses of fashion, and that is the key to world wide success, even in the most fashion and style driven capitals – such as London.
Visit DAY Birger et Mikkelsen’s store at 133a Sloane Street, London, SW11. Or visit them online at www.day.dk
Danish fashion appeal to the self-indulgent, consumption conscious individualist.
“Quality, style and sincerity” is what immediately comes to Charlotte Staffeldt’s mind, when asked what the international clientele of London find appealing about Danish fashion. 
“What Danish designers tend to represent is very high quality, cutting edge style but at affordable prices and with a good natured attitude, very different from the top designers of Knightsbridge – ‘Danish’ represents a kind of purity and goodwill that even the poshest of shoppers feel very comfortable with”.
Charlotte knows what she’s talking about. Handling PR for several Danish fashion accessory designers in London, and most recently launching the first continental Europe flagship store for the successful jewelry brand Carré Copenhagen in Notting Hill, she senses what the money rich, style aware, and self indulgent international London crowd take a fancy to.
Affordable luxury
Carré Copenhagen is feminine and romantic yet contemporary stylish jewelry, hand made from natural pearls, gems, silver and gold. Although designs by the founder Shiri Haugbøl are inspired mainly by ancient craftsmanship techniques, as well as the forms, shapes and individual characteristics of precious stones, each unique piece of jewelry is contemporary, fun, flirty while at the same time elegant and timeless. Carré Copenhagen pays tribute to the multifaceted identity of the feminine modern woman. It is thoughtful luxury at affordable prices. 
“The conscious consumers, in London and everywhere else, are tremendously self aware. They want to spoil themselves, but not over indulge. They are environmentally aware, they can afford to be selective and they are bold in their individualistic self expression.”
A wholesome experience
Carré deliberately chose the bohemian Notting Hill as venue for their London boutique. By decorating according to Feng Shui principles, effort was made to create an atmosphere that would support the narrative of the jewelry and the brand, offering a captivating environment that lures customers into staying even after they’ve received their beautifully wrapped jewelry or done their browsing.
What Carré exemplifies in their UK strategy, by appealing to all senses of their customers, is what Charlotte Staffeldt believes is a strong common denominator for most successful Danish fashion designers - the holistic shopping experience, the unpretentious yet refined delivery of quality, style, luxury and value.
Visit Carré Copenhagen's atmospheric showroom in Notting Hill on 170 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RW. You can also visit them online at www.carre.dk
Heidi Plougsgaard Jensen, 31, correspondent for the Danish newspaper Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten
London is in a broad perspective one of the most important Metropolitans in the world. What happens here often effect the rest of the World. Just think of the failed terror-attacks last year and the following tighten of the security rules at airports. How the Tony Blair way of doing politics has inspired politicians in the whole Europe and not at least Denmark. And think of the great influence the financial markets in London has. As Denmark’s international and biggest morning newspaper Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten of course wants to be present here - now represented by me.
Since 1999 when getting into journalism I have been working with a wide scope of subjects including economics, national and local politics. Among other things the foot and mouth disease crisis in the UK in 2001, Canada as an explorer traveling across the country and latest the political fight over post as mayor in Aarhus. Here I will also have a broad focus.
I graduated at Danish School of Journalism in Aarhus in 2003 but have been working at Jyllands-Posten since the year of 2000. Before that I have been working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen and on the side I have studied marketing and advertising. Later on I have been following courses in politics and international politics at ‘Aarhus Universitet’.
My roots are at the West Coast of Jutland near Ringkøbing. Since 1999 I have been living in Aarhus. Now I look forward to explore London and the rest of Great Britain.
Heidi.plougsgaard@jp.dk
22 February - Nordic Thursday Drinks
8 March - Entrepreneurship Seminar
22 March - Danish Fashion in London
29 March - DUCC Easter Buffet
20 April - DUCC Annual Dinner
25 April - Regional Event: 3rd Networking Event in Manchester
26 April - Headhunting and Recruitment Seminar
1 May - Joint Event with the Danish Church, Guest Speaker Alf Duch-Pedersen, Topic: Globalisation
17 May - Opening Reception at Georg Jensen
31 May - Nordic Thursday Drinks
7 June - Private Equity (Nordic)
28 June - Nordic Thursday Drinks
12 July - DUCC Summer Cocktail Party
Goodwille Corporate Services
Goodwille provides corporate services to small and medium sized companies
The offer
50% off your first boardroom or meeting room booking.
Read more click here
Miller Rosenfalck
Anglo-Scandinavian law firm in London with an expertise in English, Danish and European business law for UK and overseas based clients
The Offer
Offers Individual members a free half hour consultation at their offices with regards to legal matters.
Read more click here
Berlingske Tidende
The Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende is launching a new universe on the internet Berlingske VIP
Read more click here
Radisson SAS Portman Hotel
22 Portman Square
London, W1H 7BG
The Offer
The hotel offers rooms to special discounted rates to DUCC members. The discount range from 25 % to 55 %. For any specific enquires contact info@ducc.co.uk
55 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9SR
+44 (0) 207 259 67 95
info@ducc.co.uk
For all the UK and Danish Business contacts please click here
For all members of the council and committees please click here
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