Johan Throne Holst

Johan Throne Holst

Johan Throne Holst (7 February 1868 – 13 February 1946), was a Norwegian industrialist and politician for the Liberal Left Party (Frisinnede Venstre).

Throne Holst built up Freia to be Norway's leading chocolate manufacturer, and a modern workplace, with modern canteens (Freia-salen) and its own park for workers (Freia-parken). The company was also the first in Norway with its own health care policy, and the first with a 48-hour working week. Throne Holst also established chocolate production in Sweden under the brand name Marabou.

Holst became involved in politics in the 1920s due to Vidkun Quisling, but distanced himself from him by the beginning of the 1930s. In 1941, Holst was in the minority in the Federation of Norwegian Industries who protested against the increased trade that would be introduced during a German occupation.