Edel’s Department Store was established in 1991 by founder Anders Svensson. The company expanded over time and eventually operated two large physical stores in Gothenburg. One store was located in Angered Centrum and measured approximately 2,600 square meters, and the other store was located on Backaplan and had an area of 1,000 square meters.
The business idea was based on selling a wide mix of goods at a low price. The range consisted of women's, men's and children's clothing, but also home furnishings, carpets, household goods, toys and cosmetics. The goods were purchased from both Swedish suppliers and actors in countries such as France, the Netherlands and Denmark.
The company had a website where the range was presented to customers, but the business never took the step to fully invest in e-commerce.
Heavy Rental Costs
On March 10, 2026, Gothenburg District Court decided to put the company into bankruptcy. In the submitted documents, management stated that the financial situation was no longer sustainable.
The company is insolvent. For this reason, the undersigned representative requests that the company be put into bankruptcy, wrote owner Anders Svensson in the application.
The time until bankruptcy was marked by attempts to adapt the business to the prevailing economic conditions. According to the appointed bankruptcy administrator Christian Andersch, the owner has made efforts to save the company.
The challenge lay in the fact that the rental costs for the large store premises exceeded what sales and revenues could bear.
It is with great sorrow that we say thank you at Edel’s. Thank you to all the wonderful lovely customers we have gotten to know over our 35 years! There have been many nice conversations and meetings. We have done everything in our power to continue running Edel’s for a few more years, but it didn't quite work out. We are so grateful for all the kind words we have received in recent weeks, they warm our hearts, the company writes on social media.
The Figures Behind The Decision
During the most recently reported financial year, 2024, the company had an average of 10 employees. Edels Kläder AB had a turnover of 18.3 million Swedish krona in 2024 - a decrease of approximately 10 percent from the previous year. Operating profit also deteriorated and landed on a loss of 2 million Swedish krona, compared to a positive operating profit of 17,600 Swedish krona in 2023.
The company has had unpaid debts recently. In mid-2025, the debt balance at the Swedish Enforcement Authority was around 27,000 Swedish krona. Individual cases, debts of almost 50,000 Swedish krona, were also registered.
As the company is now being liquidated, a sale is underway in the department stores. The administrator describes the workplace as an environment where many of the staff have felt comfortable, and several of the employees have worked in the stores for over 20 years before the announcement of the closure.