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History 1933 - 1989
         

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’03 - ’10
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Dry mixes and cold water swelling starch from KMC - the perfect combination.
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The right modified starch for your confectionery products.
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KMC responds to increased demand for high quality potato flakes.
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1933
KMC and its seven factories began the first Danish commercial production of potato starch, after a political agreement at government level. People regarded the start-up of these factories with scepticism, partly because growers had to put their signature to an obligation to deliver potatoes. Practically every previous attempt to start a potato starch factory had resulted in big financial losses for the growers.		  
   
 
 
1934
A new bookkeeper was hired, but the chairman of the board of directors felt that this new employee was not entitled to wages during the first campaign. Times were hard, and the farmers kept a sharp eye on the money they had invested in the new factories.		    
   
 
 
1936
The search for new, supplementary products got off to a start with the production of pearl sago, which had otherwise been produced from imported starch from the sago palm. This new pearl sago soon became a hit, not least because restrictions were imposed on imports of the original sago.		  
   
 
 
1940
Restrictions imposed as a result of the Second World War made it difficult to obtain the fuel necessary to run the potato starch factories. One factory solved this by digging for peat in a nearby bog. This was a difficult, smelly job, but it enabled the factory to keep production going.		    
   
 
 
1944
Mrs Elise Wiig was appointed the first female director of a Danish potato starch factory, and thus became one of the first-ever female business executives in Denmark.		  
   
 
 
1952
Denmark was not always able to meet domestic demands for potato starch. At regular intervals, the country had to supplement its own production with imports. This situation changed from 1952 onwards, however, when Denmark became a permanent exporter of potato starch.		    
   
 
 
1962
During the 1960s, the potatoes came from fewer and fewer farms, which at the same time were gradually getting bigger and bigger. Producing potatoes had gradually become mechanised, but even in the late 1960s, considerable numbers of potatoes were still gathered by hand.		  
   
 
 
1968
During the first 35 years of the company’s existence, KMC produced and sold mainly native potato starch. In 1968, KMC set up a modification plant at the potato starch factory in Karup and began production of modified types of starch for the first time.		    
   
 
 
1976
A few years of bone-dry weather conditions in Denmark almost halved potato production on farms with light soil. This situation was only saved by special carry-over stocks.
The KMC growers took up arms against the whims of nature, installing thousands of irrigation systems in areas that were worst hit. If the rain won’t come from above, you have to tap water from below the surface.		  
   
 
 
1981
They must have been thirsty in the Soviet Union.
KMC received an enquiry from the Soviet Union regarding 10,000 metric tons of potatoes intended for vodka production.
Although KMC regarded this enquiry almost as a joke, we naturally sent off a proper quote. A couple of weeks later we received a message from the bank saying that a confirmed banker’s credit had been received from the Soviet customer. At that time, 10,000 metric tons was the equivalent of 15% of KMC’s total annual production.