Johan Petter Åhlén was born under the name Andersson on his parents’ farm, but he changed his very common name into Åhlén after his birthplace of Åhl. In 1899, with Erik Holm, he founded the mail-order business Åhlén & Holm in his hometown, which was soon re-named Insjön, and quickly developed to become the most important such business in Scandinavia. In 1906 together with Erik Åkerlund he launched the book publishing house Åhlén & Åkerlunds, which was taken over by Bonnier, and in 1932 he founded the department store chain, which still exists under the name Åhléns. In 1903 he married Elin Maria Charlotta Brolin and their sons both later became CEOs at this company. Johan Petter Åhlén died in 1939 aboard ship during a voyage to New York.
Åhlén acted as skip of the first Swedish Olympic team. He was also one of Swedish curling’s pioneers and largest donors, also holding many administrative positions, including Vice President of the Swedish Curling Association from 1935-38. He was a three-time Swedish champion, and received the Swedish Curling Association’s Gold Medal in 1936.
Sweden