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OUR HISTORY
THE STORY OF IMA
The story of IMA began in 1985 at the fuel pumps of the Shell station in Gnosjö, Sweden.
It was there that Lars-Gunnar Johansson and Isac Andersson first met. Two young, ambitious men with experience in the same industry and a shared feeling that it was time for something new. The companies they worked for had been acquired, and the future no longer felt as clear as it once had.
Between fill-ups, conversations began to grow. They talked about the industry, opportunities, and the dream of building something of their own. The more they met, the clearer it became that they shared the same entrepreneurial spirit and the same belief that things could be done in a better way.
It was there, at the Shell pumps in Gnosjö, that the seed of IMA was planted.
While still working in their existing roles, they began planning their future venture. They discussed which products could help them enter the market quickly and how they could build a company that would make a difference.
The defining moment came when Lars-Gunnar traveled to a trade fair in Vancouver. There, he met a Norwegian supplier exhibiting baskets. The products attracted significant interest from visitors, and the very first order was placed during the exhibition itself. For Lars-Gunnar, it was clear proof that they were on the right track.
He called Isac back home and said:
"You can hand in your notice now. This is selling like crazy. It's going better than we could ever have imagined."
It was a big decision, but they believed in their idea.
That first order marked the beginning of a journey whose scale neither of them could have imagined at the time. Through entrepreneurship, determination, and a strong belief in opportunity, Lars-Gunnar and Isac gradually built what is today known as IMA.
In 2002, the next generation took its first steps into the company when Lars-Gunnar's son, Anders, joined the business. Having grown up close to the company, he developed an early understanding of both the industry and the entrepreneurial spirit that had shaped IMA from the very beginning.
In 2010, Anders and his wife Jennie took over ownership of IMA. With respect for the company's history and the founders' vision, they carried the torch forward and continued developing the business for a new era.
Today, IMA is still guided by the same values that were there from the start – curiosity, determination, and the courage to see opportunities where others see obstacles. It is a story that spans generations, yet still begins at the fuel pumps of a Shell station in Gnosjö in 1985.
LARS-GUNNAR & ISAC SHARE THEIR STORY
From a meeting by the pumps in Gnosjö to the IMA company of today. Here is the film in which Lars-Gunnar and Isac share their story and journey with IMA.
In 2025, we celebrated our 40th anniversary as a company – a milestone we are both proud of and grateful for. Would you like to see how we celebrated? Take a look at our Stories.