Bernhard Andreas Brekke (1854-1932) came from a shipping family in Ålesund and founded the Bernhd. Brekke Company in 1880. He learned his trade with Rønneberg and Sons in Ålesund and with the shipbroker Clarckson &Co,London. The Bernhd Brekke firm began by exporting butter to England, and gradually acquired considerable import agencies within the grocery business, iron, coal and coke.

Bernhard A. Brekke also ran a codmeal factory at Børsa and won several prizes for outstanding quality. He was a major shareholder in Trondhjems Insurance Company Ltd., where his son was the managing director.

Moreover he was on a lot of committees and an active tradesman with honorary posts and board membership in shipping, banking, industry and
finance. For many years he was a
public trustee in the municipality.

His main principle was to have 1/3 of his money in cash, 1/3 in mortgage bonds and 1/3 in shares in companies that he would do business with. Having debts was out of the question.