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World's Best Condom Factory

© Alastair Philip Wiper

In the unlikely setting of the corner of an industrial cheese factory in the Danish countryside resides the factory of the Worlds Best (sic) condom brand, the only condom producer in Denmark. Mainly serving the markets of Denmark and Greenland, the brand was established in 1956 by Erling Hjorth as the Worlds Best Gummifabrik (Worlds Best Rubber Factory). Erling was an entrepreneur and founder of a sex toy shop called “Fabrikkernes Depot”, which he founded in 1946 and is still owned by his second wife. Worlds Best had its heyday between the 1970’s and 1990’s, helped along by the popularity of condoms due to the HIV and AIDS situation. By the turn of the century, big players like Durex had entered the market, and in 2018 the rubber factory was closed, the company was sold, and the custom-made packing machines from the 1960’s were moved to their new home.

This explains why there is now a condom production facility in the corner of a cheese factory. Mia Nørby Pladsberg, commercial director of Worlds Best, now owned by a company called DKI, explains. As well as food products, like cheese, "DKI Care sells diapers, wet wipes, toilet paper and other non-food products. We thought condoms could work well and have the same customers.” After some teething problems with the production, employees from the food side of the business were brought in to tighten things up. “Food, just like condoms, has many restrictions in order to have the best quality”, explains Mia. The rubber used for the condoms comes from Thailand, as that’s where the best quality rubber comes from. "A lot of condoms come from Malaysia, but those are mostly discount products. Rubber is not just rubber and we make sure to have the best blend.”

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