The story of Calle

Calle is a traditional border shop in Germany. On this page you can read the story of Calles border shops.

Calle as a border shop

Tailor Antoni Andresen established in 1921, a tailoring and textile trade in Jejsing near Tonder. The tailor's son, merchant Carl Andresen, nicknamed Calle, joined the business in 1934 and began trading in groceries and hardware. To the extent that the customers did not come in the store, Calle came out to them. He loaded the goods on his delivery bicycle and drove around the area. In 1936 he got a son who, like his grandfather was named Antoni.

New Generation

When Antoni Andresen was born on a spring day in 1936 as the third generation in a merchant family, there were not many who imagined that little Antoni would become nationally known as the man who helped the Danes to get more for their money. After the young Antoni Andresen had served his military service, he started up the business. Antoni joined the firm in 1958, and then he was full of plans and projects. The first store was built in Jejsing.

New opportunities for cross-border

In 1973 Denmark became a member of the EC with a new free trade opportunities across national borders. Antoni Andresen saw the opportunity to open a Danish grocery store with Danish goods south of the border to Germany, and the first Calle border shop opened in Aventoft and with the high Danish taxes on beer, wine, spirits and tobacco, the sale was booming.

Beer King

In the late 80s Antoni Andresen could as the first one south of the border put three cases of beer from his own label, Christian Firtal, on sale for 100 dollars - and Antoni Andresen was named "Danish beer king south of the border". That name has stuck ever since. In 1979, the second store opened in Kupfermühle, and since then it has gone steadily forward. Fourth generation has entered the concern, and only imagination sets limits on how Calle can evolve - everything is possible as long as it is driven by sound business acumen and good deals for the benefit of Danish consumers.

Calle today

Today, the concern consists of 9 Calle stores, which employ more than 450 friendly and welcoming staff members. The stores are located from Aventoft in the west to Rostock in the east. The company is now part of the Fleggaard Group, and headquartered in Flensburg, Germany. Current Director is Mike Simonsen.