The Kavli Trust owns the Bergen-based Kavli food group, and this ownership provides the basis for its financial support of good causes. Part of Kavli’s profits are reinvested to strengthen and develop group’s operations, while the remainder benefits research, cultural activities and humanitarian work through the trust. Although the overall amount can vary from year to year, donations from the trust have recently increased substantially.

(Above picture: Both the Kavli Trust and the Kavli group have their main office in Bergen, Norway. The blue stone on the picture was given as a gift to the city of Bergen from the Kavli Trust as a part of Kavli’s 100 year anniversary in 1993. The sculpture is made by the Norwegian artist Asbjorn Andresen and has become a well known and very popular meeting point in the centre of Bergen.)

The Kavli Trust is currently in the midst of an exciting development phase. Traditionally, it has received applications and spread support widely. But the recent trend has been towards backing fewer, larger and more long-term projects. In this way, the trust can make a bigger contribution to meeting important social needs and have a clear impact in these areas. The new approach also permits a closer partnership with recipients over a longer period, so that the two sides can jointly achieve better results and a bigger return for society from the funding.

The trust gives priority to large, long-term projects. An example of collaboration from each of its three main areas of humanitarian work, research and culture are provided below.

• Sally Ann is the Salvation Army’s international fair trade concept. It transforms people’s lives and combats poverty by promoting such commerce. More than 1 000 people in four continents are currently employed in manufacturing quality products based on good design.
• The trust has created a dedicated centre for dementia research at the Haraldsplass Diaconal Hospital in Bergen. Since 2008, this facility has expanded its scope to embrace aging. The goal is to contribute to a better life for older people and dementia sufferers by developing a strong cross-disciplinary research team.
• The Young People’s Concert is Norway’s longest-running and most renowned forum for solo performers. It has provided more than 500 young and talented musicians with their baptism of fire as a soloist with a professional symphony orchestra. Well-known Norwegian musicians such as Truls Mørk, Håvard Gimse, Henning Kraggerud and Tine Thing Helseth have all been given a flying start through these concerts.
• The shocking human suffering in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti has prompted the Kavli Trust to support efforts to bring relief after the disaster. Although the Trust does not have emergency disaster relief as one of its primary objects, it’s important that everyone pulls together on this occasion. The money given will be divided equally between the work of Médicins Sans Frontières and Save the Children in the Caribbean nation.

Click here to access information about other projects (in Norwegian only).

If The Kavli Trust would like to invite grant applications within a selected subject or area, this will be announced. Click here for further information. Contact information for the Kavli Trust can be found here.

History

The Kavli story dates back to 1893, when Olav Kavli acquired a licence as a self-employed businessman in Bergen. A creative and innovative entrepreneur, he invented Primula – the world’s first spreadable cheese with a long shelf life. After much trial and error, this product first saw the light of day in 1924. Its introduction put Kavli seriously on the map, and the cheese remains an important part of the product range.

In addition to a strong commitment to product development and innovation, Olav Kavli was an able salesman. One of his insights was that cheese exports from Norway were too variable in quality, quantity and packaging. He created good production routines to deliver continuity and predictability to consumers, which proved a winning strategy. He also built strong commercial relationships internationally through many business trips.

His son, Knut Kavli, became a full partner in the company in 1924. Working side by side, Olav and Knut soon started establishing plants abroad. A sales office was opened in Stockholm in 1933, and production from a Swedish plant began in 1940. Production in Denmark started as early as 1935, with the UK following the next year. When Olav died in 1958, Knut became responsible for the company’s continued operation.

Like his father, Knut Kavli was a socially responsible citizen, and resolved to ensure that the group had a long-term and socially committed owner by placing its shares in a charitable trust. He accordingly established the Kavli Trust in 1962, and this owns the Kavli group today. The trust’s statutes specify that profits from Kavli are to be donated to research, cultural and humanitarian activities.

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About the Kavli group

The Kavli group has operated in international markets for more than 100 years, with its own production facilities in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Britain – both England and Scotland. Its products are sold in more than 20 countries, and annual turnover is roughly NOK 2 billion. The group employs more than 600 people. Production in the UK began as early as 1936, and Kavli today has a number of strong and well-known brands both in Britain and internationally.

More information about companies in the Kavli group can be found at the following websites:

www.kavli.co.uk
www.kavli.no
www.kavli.se
www.kavli.dk
www.kavli.fi
www.kavli.com