Where do we come from

Where it all started for Oda and Mathem

Oda

Oda was started in 2013 by 10 founders with backgrounds from strategy, technology and logistics.

"We didn’t know much about groceries but had a bold ambition: to shake up the industry with technology, design and efficiency and make life better and simpler for families with the best shopping experience possible."

With a large dose of naïveté, but also grit, motivation and a commitment to excellence, the team embarked on this mission. Kolonial.no and the team grew quickly and became a celebrated product in record time.

The persistence and motivation paid off, and within just four years, we became the leading player in the Norwegian online grocery market.

In 2018 and 2019, we established a world-class value chain, reaching efficiency levels that caught international attention.

Admittedly, we hadn't expected this speed ourselves, but this is exactly what gave us the confidence to plan bigger. We wanted more, and specifically, that meant we wanted to explore new markets.

So we went international in 2021 and established operations in Germany and Finland. However, we needed a new name, and believe us, this was really not an easy decision.

What do you call a company that is active in 3 countries with different languages and pronunciations? In the end, it was quite simple. Oda, a Norwegian name, short, catchy, and memorable!

Our international expedition in those countries were relatively short. Due to a new economic reality post-pandemic, we had to adapt, closing down Finland and Germany in 2023.

But with the mindset that "where one door closes, another one opens," we found the perfect partner for a Norwegian-Swedish collaboration in Mathem, which has paid off since the merge in 2024. Not only has Oda gained fantastic new colleagues, but it also greatly helps navigating the market. In an era of large, fewer players, we creative revolutionaries are particularly important!