Our history
In July 1915, 21-year-old Jørgen Christian (J.C.) Hempel became Denmark’s youngest licensed wholesaler when he established Hempel’s Marine Paints. This later became the Hempel Group of Companies. To secure a sound future for the Hempel Group and its subsidiaries, J.C. Hempel transferred all his shares to the Hempel Foundation in 1948. Today, the Hempel Foundation remains the sole shareholder of the Hempel Group.
J.C. Hempel was more than a talented businessman; he was also considered a visionary thinker. Not only did he establish the Hempel Foundation, he was also one of the first business owners in Denmark to provide his employees with benefits as he cared deeply about the well-being of the people around him.
J.C. Hempel valued his employees – always remembering to personally congratulate them on their accomplishments, work anniversaries and other important events in their lives. He believed strongly in creating a highly cooperative atmosphere within Hempel.
It is this spirit of caring that is at the core of the Hempel Foundation. Though J.C. Hempel died in 1986, the Hempel Foundation is still guided today by his philosophies.
