Petter Stordalen's Unique Investment: Freezing His Dog's Sperm

He owns over 200 hotels, but when Petter Stordalen himself mentions his best investment, it's something entirely different—a dog kennel. Personally, he has ensured to have 'a perfect' dog.

I have frozen my old dog's sperm, says Stordalen.

Entrepreneur and hotel owner Petter Stordalen is attending Almedalsveckan for the twelfth time. The highlight for the Norwegian himself is his own gathering, where tonight Stordalen will host 1,500 guests at the hotel he owns in Visby.

Additionally, there are 400 people on the waiting list; it's a gathering that has truly grown over the years, and I'm very happy to be able to engage.

There is no doubt that Petter Stordalen, 62, enjoys Almedalen. He even opens up to the idea of marrying his girlfriend Märta Elander Wistén, 35, in Almedalen.

I have been married and divorced a couple of times, but I have not lost faith in love. Getting married is one of the finest celebrations one can have, so I do not rule it out.

As the largest hotel owner in the Nordics, Petter Stordalen is used to talking about his business and how he invests. But for Expressen, the Norwegian reveals that there is a company he is particularly passionate about. Namely, one of his lesser-known investments, the dog kennel Kustmarken.

It's easy to focus on the hotels and all that, but one of my finest investments is Kustmarken in Ljungskile, where owners Robert and Carina breed guide dogs that come to the aid of people who need them. They deliver 30–40 dogs per year that change other people's lives.
The only return I get is a new dog every nine years.

"Gives Us Returns Every Day"

Stordalen owns 40 percent of the dog company but is clear that he does not do it for the money.

Märta has a small terrier, and I have a large shepherd, and you cannot value in money what these two dogs give us; they give us returns every day.
I'm not saying it's the most sensible investment I've made, but it brings a lot of joy. I've done many foolish things in my life, and many investments have gone wrong. But you can't focus on what goes wrong; the road to success is lined with small failures.

Has Frozen Dog's Sperm

Petter Stordalen's love for dogs is so great that he made an unusual choice when one of his favorite dogs was about to pass away a few years ago.

I have frozen my old dog's sperm, Cross was wonderful, and I want a perfect dog again.

Robert Jönsson, who runs Kustmarken, talks about the process.

Right now, the sperm is at SLU and will be used later. That was a dog that meant a lot to Petter. And if you collect sperm from dogs and then find the right female, the likelihood of a similar offspring increases, says Robert Jönsson, highlighting his partner Petter Stordalen's commitment to the kennel.
I've known Petter for over 20 years. He is an incredibly ambitious, knowledgeable, and energetic person whom you can consult about many things, especially when it comes to economics. Petter has a big heart, and I think that's why he chooses to work with a company like this that helps blind people, says Jönsson.