The Fork Theatre received the MsH 2022 Encouragement Award.

The Marketing Office of Hafnarfjörður's incentive awards were presented for the sixth time last Thursday at a festive and enjoyable ceremony in Hafnarborg.

The Fork Theatre received the encouragement award this time, among other things, for staging many excellent shows over the years which are invaluable to the town's cultural life and a great source of joy.

See the announcement and more pictures on the MsH website.

At the ceremony, awards were also presented to four parties for their work in promoting business and the town's atmosphere in Hafnarfjörður. The recipients were Brikk, Iðnmark, Jónatan Garðarsson and Betri stofan, the latter as a newcomer to the market. 

Here are the reviews of the award recipients:

The Fork Theatre

The citation for the incentive award states that the Hafnarfjörður Theatre deserves this award for staging many excellent productions over the years, which are invaluable to the town's cultural life and a great source of joy. They have also encouraged their patrons to use other local amenities, such as restaurants and cafés, thereby bringing even more life to Hafnarfjörður.

In the many reviews submitted about the Gaflar Theatre, many people mentioned that their work with children and young people was an absolute model to follow, and that numerous individuals had gained a great head start in life after working with them. One person put it this way: „The Gaflar Theatre deserves this award for their diligence and extraordinary hard work in entertaining the town's residents, both young and old, regardless of gender.“

The board of the Marketing Agency of Hafnarfjörður hopes that the award will be an encouragement for the Gaflar Theatre to continue to work with the same passion and enthusiasm.

Video about the Gaflar Theatre

The better living room

Better Studio received the newcomer award this year, having opened last December on the seventh and top floor of the Fjarðar North Tower. It is a place where people can come and work in a beautiful and pleasant setting, as well as make use of two different meeting rooms and, after the working day, enjoy socialising with friends and/or colleagues.

This new venture in Hafnarfjörður has been well received by individuals and businesses that have secured membership, thereby gaining greater access to a flexible workspace instead of a traditional office. The location is unique, or as one nomination justification put it: „The most beautiful meeting place in Hafnarfjörður and the view over the harbour is divine.“

The owners of Betri stofan are the couples Geirþrúður Guttormsdóttir and Hafsteinn Hafsteinsson, and Signý Eiríksdóttir and Jón Tryggvason.

The board of the marketing agency believes that the activities of the Better Agency further enhance the town's atmosphere and therefore gives it this recognition.

Brick

Brikk, Bread and Kitchen, opened in June 2017 and is celebrating its fifth anniversary this summer.

At Brikk, quality is a priority: all their creams are made with real chocolate and cream, the beef for the sandwiches is slow-cooked, and a great deal of work goes into every single pastry. Their sourdough breads and salads are always a hit and have been an absolute success.

Miðhellu is, in effect, the company's headquarters. All pre-processing and the production for the company's wholesale division take place there. However, most people are primarily familiar with Brikk on the North Shore, which has become a popular destination on the main seafront promenade for residents of Hafnarfjörður, adding even more life and the aroma of freshly baked goods to it.

Brikk's popularity has been so great that a branch has been opened in Reykjavík and, more recently, one in Kópavogur.

The company is owned by three families, but Oddur Smári Rafnsson and Davíð Magnússon are at the forefront.

The board of the marketing agency would like to encourage Brikk to continue on its current path, where a passion for quality is prioritised, and to present the company with this recognition.

Industrial market

The family-run company Iðnmark has been operating since 1988 and has always been based in Hafnarfjörður. It was founded by the couple Dagbjartur Björnsson and Eyrún Sigurjónsdóttir, but is run today by their children, Sigurjón, Jóhanna and Ingibjörg.

It all started with the famous Star Popcorn, and shortly afterwards the company began to produce crisps in various flavours. Today, the company's products are known to more or less everyone in the country and are available in most, if not all, of the nation's grocery shops.

At its factory in Gjótuhraun, Iðnmark produces around 200,000 bags of crisps and popcorn each month, and it is simply unacceptable to host a party, particularly a Eurovision party, without offering at least three types of crisps from them.

Over the years, the company has been exceptionally supportive of all sports clubs and other voluntary organisations in Hafnarfjörður when it comes to grants and fundraising, and it is particularly because of this strong sense of social responsibility that the board of the marketing agency decided to award Iðnmark this award.recognition.

Jonathan Gardarsson

Jónatan Garðarsson was recognised for his diverse work and contributions to the art and culture of Hafnarfjörður. He is a great Hafnarfjörður resident, has always been proud of it, and knows his town well. He has also enhanced the reputation of Hafnarfjörður in many fields over the years.

In recent years, he has shared his knowledge of Hafnarfjörður's history, relating to music, buildings, people and businesses, in health and culture walks attended by several hundred people. Those familiar with them say his walks are characterised by a wealth of information combined with great joy.

Outdoor activities and hiking have been Jonathan's interests since his youth. He sits on the board of the Hafnarfjörður Forestry Society and, among other things, always helps out at the society's annual Christmas tree sale. He is also the chairman of the Friends of Krýsuvík Church, which worked to build a new church after the old one burnt down.

The board of the marketing agency hopes that Jónatan will continue to draw attention to how wonderful our town is and hereby presents him with this recognition.