Our story
Rettig Ltd was established in 1845, when Pehr Cerelius Rettig (1811–1871) moved from Gävle in Sweden to Turku in Finland to set up a tobacco factory. Today the company continues to be held by the family and it is controlled by the 9th generation of the von Rettig family.
The business started as a tobacco factory in Hamburg in Germany in the 1770s. Later the business operations moved to Sweden and in 1845, Rettig established a tobacco factory in Turku, Finland. Since then, the company has throughout its long history been actively engaged in a broad range of industrial businesses such as shipping and later limestone, metal, confectionery industries and heating systems. With deep roots in the Finnish industry, Rettig is today a family-owned investment company focusing on public and private investments globally.
Selected milestones over 9 generations
1st – 4th generation
1770 Steffen Cerillius Rettig became a tobacco master and founded a tobacco factory in Hamburg, and soon another in Ringkjobing, Denmark and another one in Carlskrona, Sweden.
1809 Steffen Cerillius’ son, Pehr Christian Rettig, establish a tobacco factory in Gävle, Sweden. He was also engaged in the production of iron, shipbuilding and in the shipping business.
1845 Pehr Christian’s son, Pehr Cerelius Rettig, founded a tobacco factory in Turku, Finland.
1897 Pehr Cerelius’ nephew, Fredric von Rettig, was actively involved in establishing Bore Steamship Company which sailed between Turku and Stockholm.
Henning von Rettig (1866–1924) – 5th generation
1901 Founding of the Electron power plant in Turku, reflecting early investment in electrification and modern infrastructure.
1904 Establishment of the Ab Tabacos tobacco factory in Stockholm.
1912 The acquisition of a shareholding in Pargas Kalkberg Ab marked the beginning of the company’s entry into the mining and limestone business.
1915 Ab Tabacos was incorporated into the Swedish state tobacco monopoly, marking a major transition for the business. Introduction of the first cigarette-filling machines at the tobacco factory on Nunnankatu in Turku, symbolizing industrial modernization.
Hans von Rettig (1894–1979) – 6th generation
1926 Rettig became the main shareholder of Bore Steamship Company, which also became a partner in the Finland South America Line, serving traffic between Finland and South America.
1928 The industrial property of the Rettig Tobacco Factory in Turku, was built.
1940 P.C.Rettig & Co bought the majority share of Finland’s biggest tobacco factory Ph.U. Strengberg & Co Ab in Pietarsaari, Finland.
1957 Acquisition of a shareholding in Oy Siljavarustamo Ab to strengthen the shipping business.
1970 Rettig began to actively diversify its portfolio to other businesses as tobacco-related health issues became relevant. Rettig entered the heating and radiator manufacturing industry by acquiring Purmo Tuote in Finland.
1970 Rettig stepped into the confectionery industry by acquiring Oy Merijal Ab in Oulu, Finland.
1974 Rettig set up a sales company Purmo Verkauf KG in Germany to handle the export of the radiators of Purmo Tuote.
1975 Rettig enlarged its confectionary field by acquiring Oy Seres Ab in Turku, Finland.
Gilbert von Rettig (1928–1994) – 7th generation
1979 Gilbert von Rettig took over the ownership and the responsibility for the company. The company was engaged in tobacco, confectionery, metal and heating industries and in shipping.
1980’s Rettig became the leading radiator manufacturer in the Nordic countries after the acquisition of several radiation factories in Finland and other European countries.
1984 The acquisition of Sinebrychoff marked Rettig’s entry into the beverage industry.
Cyril von Rettig (1954-) – 8th generation
Rettig divested all other businesses except heating and shipping.
1995 Sale of P.C. Rettig Ab marked Rettig’s exit from the tobacco industry.
1997–2000 Sale of the beverage industry company Sinebrychoff Ab in two stages to Danish brewery group Carlsberg.
2005–2006 Shipping business strengthened by add on acquisitions of Bror Husell Chartering Ab Ltd and Rederi Ab Engship.
2006–2010 Rettig made a comeback into the lime business, first investing in Nordkalk and later becoming its sole shareholder.
Tomas von Rettig (1980-) – 9th generation
Rettig’s journey from an industrial conglomerate into a leading investment company began and accelerated.
2015 Acquisition of Emmeti S.p.A., expanding Rettig held Purmo Group’s international HVAC operations. Purmo Group is one of Europe’s leading provider of sustainable indoor climate comfort solutions.
2016 Rettig concluded a major phase in shipping investments as shipping company Bore was divested to Dutch shipping company Spliethoff.
2021 Rettig divested its stake in Alandia.
2021 Rettig exited mining and lime operations by divesting Nordkalk, and became a shareholder in SigmaRoc Plc., the new owner of Nordkalk.
2021 Rettig merged Purmo Group with Virala Acquisition Company resulting in Purmo Group becoming a listed company on the Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange with Rettig remaining the majority shareholder.
2024 Rettig and Apollo took Purmo Group private from the Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange, resulting in Apollo funds owning 80% and Rettig 20% of Purmo Group.
