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Rusta’s story

Rusta was founded in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1986 by Anders Forsgren and Bengt-Olov Forssell based on an idea born in 1979 during Forsgren’s and Forssell’s research studies at Uppsala University. Forsgren and Forssell created a store where Swedish people could buy everyday use products at the best possible prices. In 1986, the first store opened in Gävle, Sweden.

The first international expansion took place in 2014, when Rusta opened its first store in Norway. In 2017, the first store in Germany opened and in 2018 Rusta acquired and integrated the Finnish discounter Hong Kong into Rusta and launched in Finland. In 2020, the complementary online store was launched. Rusta has developed one successful store concept that is implemented in all stores across all markets.

In 2016, Rusta started the loyalty customer program Club Rusta. After approximately two years, Club Rusta reached 1.7 million members. By the end of financial year 2023/2024, there were more than 5,5 million members across Rusta’s markets and they stand for approximately 80 percent of the annual sales.

Today, Rusta has more than 210 stores in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Germany, which is complemented by the Rusta online store in Sweden and Finland. Rusta has a Nordic focused pipeline of new stores, but is also expanding in key locations in Germany, with the long-term vision to become the leading and most trusted variety hard discount retailer in Europe. Rusta was listed on Nasdaq Stockholm in 2023.

rusta-history

1986

Rusta is founded by Anders Forsgren and Bengt-Olov Forssell

The first Rusta store is opened in Gävle, Sweden

1987

Rusta implements a direct sourcing model

First central fulfilment centre opens in Gävle.

1990

Rusta reaches 10 stores and 70 employees

1996

Rusta opens first local sourcing office

located in Hangzhou, China

2010

Rusta’s one common store concept is first introduced

2013

Rusta opens a new sourcing office in New Delhi, India

Rusta’s second sourcing office, in addition to the office in China

2014

The first Rusta store outside of Sweden is opened in Norway

rusta-about-us-history

2015

The Norrköping central fulfilment centre is opened

2016

Rusta’s membership club, Club Rusta, is launched

Rusta opens a new sourcing office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Rusta’s third sourcing office, in addition to the offices in China and India

2017

The first Rusta store in Germany is opened

2018

Rusta acquires the Finnish discount retailer Hong Kong

and integrates it into the Rusta concept

2020

Rusta Online is launched

hkstrategies - Kunde: Rusta - Store-Opening in Kerpen (Erft-Karree), 20.04.2023  - ©markusfeger.de/hkstrategies

2023

Rusta reaches annual net sales of over SEK 10 billion

Over 200 stores across Sweden, Norway, Finland and Germany, and more than 5 million members in Club Rusta

IPO

Rusta AB (publ) was listed on Nasdaq Stockholm

2024

Rusta opens a new sourcing office in Istanbul, Türkiye

Rusta’s fourth sourcing office, in addition to the offices in China, India and Vietnam