For more than 20 years, Claus Meyer has been pointing out shortcomings and possibilities within the Danish food culture. Through food policy business, lectures, participation in the public food debate and his TV-programmes and cookbooks he has tried to show the way to a higher quality of food and meals.
Education
Claus Meyer was born on 27 December 1963 in Nykøbing-Falster (South of Zealand). He graduated from Nykøbing-Falster Cathedral School in 1983 and after a year as an au pair in France he went to Copenhagen where he completed cand.merc international (BLC/Sprøk) specialising in business start-up and business development.
The Meyer Group
Today, the Meyer Group includes the following businesses: Meyers Køkken, Meyers Deli, Meyers Madhus, Meyer Kantiner and Frugt fra Lilleø.
At the age of 20, Claus Meyer prepared his first “out of the house” meal in his two-room apartment on Ingerslevsgade and delivered it on his Raleigh bicycle. The one- man-firm became the launch of the catering-business, Meyers Køkken (1989) which today delivers custom food and meal-concepts for private individuals and businesses.
In 1999, Claus Meyer opened the doors to Meyers Madhus on Nørrebrogade, Copenhagen, which offers cooking courses, gastronomical experiences, inspiration and education for children and adults as well as professionals. Teambuilding, pampering visits and cooking courses take place in e.g. Meyers Madhus in the heart of Copenhagen, on Norra Mosshult in Sweden and on Lilleø.
In the year 2000, Claus Meyer founded Meyer Canteens which today runs more than 45 canteens. Meyer Canteens employs 200 employees who, on a daily basis, prepare lunch for 10.000 happy and picky employees at a number of Denmark’s leading public and private businesses i.a. PFA Pension, Ledernes Hovedorganisation, Carlsberg Danmark, BRF Kredit, Købenavns Fondbørs and the Ministry of Family and Consumer Affairs.
In the spring of 2003, Claus Meyer purchased Vigmosegaard on Lilleø and the adjoining fruit plantation. The fruit from Frugt fra Lillø is sold through KC Frugt, and apples as well as plums are refined into vinegar inspired by Modenas balsamic-vinegar-production. In 2004 he was the driving force behind establishing a Danish fruit-vinegar-consortium, which, from the beginning, was supported by 20 fruit growers from the southern Danish coastal area.
During recent years, Claus Meyer has become involved in extensive product development projects under the brand name Meyerfood which aims towards making tasty ingredients and refined products with a special story of origin broadly available on the Danish market.
In April 2005, Claus Meyer opened Meyers Deli on Gl.Kongevej, Frederiksberg; a ground-breaking fusion of informal dining, grocery store, coffeshop and take-away. In 2006, Meyers Deli established a branch on Kgs. Nytorv in the apartment store Magasin.
In may 2010 Claus Meyer opened a micro vinegar brewery, Nordhavn Eddikebryggeri.
In november 2010, Claus Meyers opened his first direct sale Bakery in Jægersborggade 9.
Today the Meyer Group employs more than 400 employees.
Subsidiaries and additional career
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During the period 1991-1999 Claus Meyer was the Danish TV-channel DR1’s house chef in the programme Meyers Køkken.
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In 1995, in cooperation with Søren Sylvest, he founded Chokolade Compagniet, which is the Scandinavian agent for the French chocolate Valrhôna. In 1996 they developed the single-farm-coffee-brand, Estate Coffee. In 2000 they opened Estate Coffee kaffe- og chokoladebar on Gl. Kongevej in Copenhagen, and in 2005 they established their very own coffee roastery in Valby under the name Copenhagen Roasters.
In 1998, in cooperation with business partner Mette Martinussen, Claus Meyer staged the theatre-like restaurant-project Ester & Soja in the now closed soy cake-factory. -
In early 2003 he assisted Anders Kissmeyer in developing and establishing Nørrebro Bryghus.
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In November 2003, he established the gourmet restaurant noma in cooperation with business partner and kitchen chef Rene Redzepi. Noma was soon awarded two stars in the Michelin Guide. Most recently, noma has been voted the 10th best restaurant in the world by Restaurant Magazine.
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In the summer of 2006, Claus Meyer purchased Hotel Saxkjøbing on Lolland-Falster in cooperation with Erwin Lauterbach and Carl Jones. The hotel offers pampering-visits for private individuals, conference and meeting facilities for businesses and a restaurant that serves rural food based on local ingredients.
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In May 2007, Claus Meyer made his comeback as a TV-chef on the Danish TV-channel DR1 in the Nordic food and travel programme New Scandinavian Cooking. Alongside the Danish programme, an English version of the TV-show has been launched. The programme-series will be aired internationally in approximately 60 different countries and is expected to be watched by close to 100 million viewers
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In 2008 Claus established NordicFoodLab together with chef René Redzepi (noma). A non profit foodlaboratory.
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Participates in The OPUS research project - 'Optimal well-being, development and health for Danish children through a healthy New Nordic Diet'- runs from 2009 till 2013
Board positions, awards and nominations
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During the period 1991-1999, Claus Meyer was head of the Danish department for the European Community of Chefs, Eurotoques.
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Co-founder of Chokoladeselskabet, 1992
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The driving-force behind Kaffeselskabet, 1995
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Member of Det danske Gastronomiske Akademi, 1992.
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Received Grøntsagsprisen, 1994.
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Received Landbrugets Kulturpris, 2000
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Member of Undervisningsministeriets Musiske Udvalg which was established under the Ministry of Food in 1998-2000 in order to establish a labelling scheme for quality food-products.
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Was appointed chairman of Rådet for Bedre Madkvalitet by Minister of Food, Ritt Bjerregaard in November 2000. The council was shut down during the change of government in 2002
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Driving force behind Nordisk Køkken Symposium which, in 2004, gathered opinion formers from all over the world to discuss the Nordic cuisine’s possibilities and potential for developing the industries involved.
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Elected Fruit Grower of the Year 2004, for having established, through the trademark Frugt fra Lilleø, a brand with a good history, which meant that they could sell quality products at a fair price and, furthermore, having taken the initiative to launch a line of exciting products that can create new possibilities for Danish fruit growers.
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Received the Danske Ølentusiasters Ølpris in 2006 for being a pioneer of the combination of food and beer; and not least beer in food.
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Appointed Adjunct Professor at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University of Copenhagen in January 2006 (until 2011). Had since 2005 functioned as external lecturer at the same institution and in 2004, in cooperation with professor Thorvald Pedersen, established a study group for the Country’s leading Molecular Gastronomy chefs.
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Received price as 'Chef of Chefs' together with René Redzepi (co-owner of awarded best restaurant in the world - noma) in 2010.
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Named 'Copenhager of the decade' by AOK in 2010.
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Received price as best leader of entreprise in Copehagen area in 2010.
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Meyers Deli awarded best deli in Copenhagen in 2010 by AOK.
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Receives the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog in 2010.
Further Merits
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Author of cookbooks
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Various feature articles and debate contributions
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Around 700 lectures on food quality and related issues since 1990
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Teacher at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University of Copenhagen
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Participation in various food-policy debates
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Orchestration of and participation in scientific research between Meyers Madhus and Arne Astrup/FHE
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Co-writer of Lærebog for Human Ernæring
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Member of the Advisory Board of the Danish Heart Association since 2001
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Advisor to several large Danish businesses in regards to questions concerning product development and quality
Family and leisure time
Claus Meyer is married to Christina Meyer Bengtsson who is a graphic designer. Together they have three daughters, and Christina has a son from a former marriage.
In his leisure time, Claus Meyer loves playing sports, however, he is also a passionate sports spectator with a fondness for Danish women’s handball, the Danish national soccer team and specifically Nykøbing Falster Alliancen of which he is active in the club’s business association and a member of the board.
Many years ago, Claus Meyer was badminton coach for clubs as diverse as Tingsted, Toreby Grænge and the French champion team Racing Club de France. Moreover, he holds the Danish record for continuous wins as coach for the premiere badminton team of Sundby KFUM during the mid-eighties. Last but no least, he is a former Lolland –Falster champion of table tennis, badminton, tennis and chess.
Today, Claus Meyer plays men’s single badminton on ABC’s veterans’ team in the elite rank and men’s single tennis on KTK’s senior tennis team. Every year he takes part in the Vasaloppet in Sweden (90km cross-country skiing), and he ran his first marathon in Berlin in 2004.
