Scandinavia's largest camping chain ramping up its presence in Denmark

First Camp is increasingly targeting the Danish market. The campsite chain acquires four Danish campsites and recruits an experienced Regional Manager, well ahead of the summer season of 2020. Thereby First Camp becomes Denmark’s largest camping chain. ”This is only the beginning of our growth journey in Denmark,” says First Camp’s CEO Johan Söör.  

First Camp is announcing today the acquisition of camping destinations Bogense Strand Camping and Hasmark Strand Camping at Fyn, and in December also Bösöre Strand Feriepark and Skovlund Camping were acquired. Total annual revenues in Denmark are expected to exceed 60 milllion DKK, including First Camp Lakolk Strand-Rømø that the company already operates. With a total of approx. 2500 camping pitches and almost 150 cabins, First Camp is now becoming Denmark’s largest campsite chain.

These investments are part of a long-term plan. In December, First Camp issued a bond of 700 million SEK to finance future investments. It is on the agenda to find more campsites in Denmark to acquire and develop:

– Denmark is close to continental Europe and the beautiful surroundings of the country makes Denmark extra attractive. Now we’re ramping up our presence here, with more campsites and a very experienced Regional Manager, says Johan Söör, CEO, First Camp.

In conjunction with these acquisitions, Malene Kronborg is recruited as Regional Manager for the Danish market. Malene has a background from vacation resort Lalandia in Billund and retail chain Panduro. The new role entails P&L responsibility for the Danish operations of First Camp.

– We see a good opportunity to take our successful chain concept also to Denmark. Just like the Swedish market, the Danish market is very fragmented. Most campsites are owned and operated by small players. There are substantial scale benefits of integrating campsites into one chain and here we can take the lead, for instance, in driving further digitalization in the industry, which requires both resources and expertise, says Johan Söör, CEO First Camp, and continues:

– Danmark is also an important transit destination into Scandinavia for campers from other parts of Europe. Following these acquisitions, we will have a very strong guest proposition in both Denmark and Sweden.

Thanks to these acquisitions, the guests of First Camp will get access to a modern, digital experience, where it becomes easy to book 44 camping destinations in Denmark and Sweden at firstcamp.dk. Also, First Camp’s popular guest club, enabling guests to earn points by staying at one of the 44 destinations, will be launched later on. Expected closing of the four newly acquired campsites is in February and March 2020.

For further information, please contact:

Johan Söör, VD, First Camp
+46 766 411 825
johan.soor@firstcamp.se

Ola Bååth, CIO, First Camp
+46 731 409 756
ola.baath@firstcamp.se