HedeDanmark changes name to Dalgas

Hedeselskabet is now uniting all its business units under one name. Therefore, HedeDanmark and all its sub-brands will change their names to Dalgas, after the founder Enrico Dalgas.

Published on 1. October 2024

Christian Agerskov Munk

Pressechef
E. camu@hedeselskabet.dk
T. +45 29 90 19 86

Few individuals have left as significant a mark on the Danish landscape as Enrico Dalgas, who co-founded Hedeselskabet in 1866. At that time, the barren heath was transformed into fertile agricultural land to feed a poor population.

Today, the challenges are different, with ecological crises affecting the climate, environment, and biodiversity. However, Hedeselskabet's mission remains to serve society's interests, and therefore, the company's business units, HedeDanmark and several sub-brands, will now take the founder's name.

Hedeselskabet will continue to be the name of the association and the foundation – only the business will change its name to Dalgas.

CEO Torben Friis Lange by the Dalgas statue in Aarhus.

- With the new name, we bring Dalgas' spirit and values into today's business. He was known for his dedication, innovation, and professionalism. The same virtues has characterised our businesses for more than 150 years. So, what name would be more fitting to unite our businesses under than the name of Hedeselskabet's first director, says Torben Friis Lange, the 12th CEO in line after Enrico Dalgas.

With the name Dalgas, the organisation unites all its business units into one. This is part of a larger rebranding to create a cohesive link between the association and foundation, Hedeselskabet, and the operating company, Dalgas.

One company, one voice, and one identity

Dalgas' business areas include everything from afforestation and forest management, ecological restoration, construction work, green maintenance, recycling of by-products to timber trade. Previously, the business was divided into HedeDanmark and a long list of sub-brands, which are now united into one entity.

By uniting the businesses under the same name, it becomes easier to offer complete solutions to Dalgas' partners and customers in all phases of their work with nature, climate, and environment.

"The green transition has more nuances than just black and white. We have worked with and in nature for more than 150 years, and with the critical state of the environment, there is now greater focus on how we can improve conditions for nature and society. As Denmark's largest partner in the green sector and provider of nature-based holistic solutions, we can support this

Torben Friis Lange

CEO of Hedeselskabet

HedeDanmark and its sub-brands currently have business activities in Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden, as well as trade with many countries in and outside Europe. The change to the name Dalgas is also intended to support the increased international ambitions, as Dalgas has more international potential than the HedeDanmark name.

Hedeselskabet remains as an association and foundation with the distribution of funds to green projects. The operating company Dalgas' visual identity and logo will be the same as Hedeselskabet's, thereby creating a closer connection between the two. Both the association and the business will continue to work under the vision "We create a sustainable future - partnering with nature."

Facts

Enrico Mylius Dalgas

Born in 1828 in Naples.

Was active as an officer and road engineer during the Schleswig wars in 1848-1851 and 1864, where Denmark lost much good agricultural land to Germany.

Was among the founders of Hedeselskabet in 1866, whose purpose was to cultivate the Jutland heath into agricultural land as a replacement for the lost land.

Was the first director of Hedeselskabet from 1866 until his death in 1894.

Hedeselskabet is still an association with the status of a commercial foundation. Therefore, there are no owners or shareholders – the profit is instead reinvested in the business and distributed to green projects through Hedeselskabet's foundation.

Facts

These sub-brands will henceforth be called Dalgas

HedeDanmark – afforestation, forest management, ecological restoration, stream maintenance, construction tasks, green maintenance, winter security, pest control

HD Silva – trade in timber and wood chips

HD NordicTrees – cultivation and trade of Christmas trees

HD BioRec – recycling of by-products

HD LogSystems – digital measurement of raw timber

HD 2412 – trade in Christmas trees and forest equipment

HD Forest – forest investments and forest management in the Baltics

HD Forest Germany – forest management in Germany

HD Seed – tree breeding