Portraits of Halmstad Residents

Axel Edvard Pihl (1837–1926) moved from Ängelholm to Halmstad in 1857.

After working in a shop, he opened the grocery business Carlsson & Pihl on Storgatan, opposite Stora Torg. He bought the property, which extended through the entire block all the way down to Hamngatan.

He also began selling artificial fertiliser and seeds to local farmers at an early stage. This gave him a use for the storage premises facing Hamngatan.

In 1903, he sold the grocery business, and in 1909, having reached an advanced age, he also retired from the fertiliser and seed business.

Axel Edvard Pihl

Halmstad Östra station, where trains on the Bolmen Railway began their journeys.

Axel Edvard Pihl held several municipal positions and played an important role in the opening of the railway between Halmstad and Bolmen. From 1902 to 1911, he served as chairman of the Halmstad–Bolmen Railway.

His name lives on in Halmstad today through the Eva and Axel Edv. Pihl Foundation, which runs two residential homes for elderly residents of Halmstad with limited incomes.

Eleonora Uttke (1841–1924) was born out of wedlock to Ingejerd Persdotter, a domestic servant. In time, her mother moved to Halmstad and began making a living by producing boiled sweets.

The business was run on the second floor of a house on Hospitalsgatan. Eleonora helped her mother with the confectionery and eventually took over the business herself.

The business grew considerably, with customers in places such as Stockholm and even in the United States.

The methods used to make the sweets remained unchanged throughout the years. Everything was made by hand in their own kitchen, and the exact recipes were kept secret.

Eleonora Uttke

Vallgatan 18, where Uttke’s confectionery shop was located.

Uttke’s confectionery shop later moved to Vallgatan 18, near the intersection with Brogatan. Eleonora Uttke continued making sweets until 1914, when she retired due to her age.

In 1962, the shop moved to Hantverksgatan, to the building now known as the Shoemaker’s House.

The shop remained in business until 1968, when the last confectioner, Elisabeth Persson, closed it down. She later “took the recipes with her to the grave.”

The legendary and most successful salmon smoker in Halmstad was Josefina Magdalena Johansson, born in Falkenberg in 1826 (1826–1910). She was widely known as “Fiken”.

In 1848, Fiken married the sea captain Pehr Johansson and then moved to Halmstad. There, she began working as a salmon smoker.

In 1855, she established her own business, although her husband initially had to run it on her behalf. As a married woman, Fiken Johansson was not legally independent and was not allowed to conduct business in her own name.

Fiken Johansson

Fiken Johansson AB logo.

In 1861, Halmstad salmon achieved its real breakthrough when it was included on the menu at the celebrations for King Charles XV’s 35th birthday.

Later, Fiken Johansson’s company was appointed a Royal Warrant Holder by the then Crown Prince, who later became King Gustaf V.

Johan Birger Berggren (1849–1914) grew up in poor circumstances in Halmstad.

After leaving school, he began working as a shop assistant in a grocery store at Stora Torg. He was conscientious and hardworking, and learned all the different tasks involved in running a shop.

In 1872, he opened his own business in a building on Köpmansgatan. As he was interested in shipping, he also developed the business into a fully stocked ship chandlery.

Johan Birger Berggren

Köpmansgatan 23, with J. B. Berggren’s grocery shop.

In 1895, he and his son Pehr founded AB J. B. Berggren, a wholesale business dealing in food products.

In 1905, Halmstad Järnvaru AB was established as a wholesale company supplying hardware stores.

These two businesses operated in Halmstad for many years, first under the management of Pehr Berggren and later under other owners.