Aller Aqua acquires trout business

Danish-headquartered feed company Aller Aqua Group A/S confirmed it has acquired Danforel, a leading European producer of smoked trout fillets.

The share capital purchase was concluded at the start of last month, Aller Aqua advised in a press release.

"From Aller Aqua's side, we look forward to the new close collaboration between the companies, which will give both companies better opportunities to optimize fish farming, processing, and marketing in the future,” Aller Aqua CEO Hans Erik Bylling said.

New investments in expanded fry facilities alongside optimized production will start very soon, Bylling said.

“In addition, we want to ensure the optimum utilization of the whole fish,” Bylling said.

Danforel Director Erik Hansen is to continue as CEO, the company said.

Established in 1939, Grindsted, Denmark-based Danforel has six aquaculture facilities and a 15,000-square meter slaughterhouse. The company currently produces 4,000 metric tons (MT) of Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified trout.

Aller Aqua, meanwhile, produces fish feed for more than 70 countries worldwide from its factories in Denmark, Poland, Germany, Egypt, China, Zambia, and Serbia. Collectively, these facilities provide the EUR 185 million (USD 197.2 million) turnover company with a production capacity in excess of 300,000 MT.