ICA Selection Ankarstock bread

ICA Selection Ankarstock is a premium sourdough rye bread that is part of the 'Svenskt Hantverk' (Swedish Craft) line. This specific bread is produced by Östras Stenugnsbageri, a historic bakery located in Halmstad, Sweden, which has been operating since 1899. The bread is baked in traditional stone ovens using sourdough and rye, following a recipe with roots dating back to 1752 when it was developed to replace hard ship's biscuits for the Swedish Royal Navy.

While the product is sold under the ICA Selection private label brand, the manufacturing is outsourced to local artisanal producers to ensure high quality and regional authenticity. The ICA brand itself is owned by ICA Gruppen, one of the leading retail companies in the Nordic region. Following a major acquisition in 2021/2022, ICA Gruppen is primarily owned by ICA-handlarnas Förbund (the Association of ICA Retailers) in partnership with the pension company AMF.