Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Marianne Sivertsen Næss | Image: Lerøy / FIS

Lerøy Norway Seafoods Inaugurates Norway's Most Modern Whitefish Factory

NORWAY
Thursday, June 27, 2024, 07:20 (GMT + 9)

Lerøy Norway Seafoods marks an important milestone with the official opening of the newly upgraded factory in Båtsfjord, an investment of NOK 220 million (USD 20.61 M) which represents the largest industrial investment in Båtsfjord in many years.

Source: Lerøy Seafoods

"This must be the biggest industrial investment in the fishing capital in living memory. The investment gives us the opportunity to increase competitiveness, streamline production and secure the 120 jobs at the factory", says Børge Soleng, general manager of Lerøy Norway Seafoods.

For Lerøy, it is the quota base on the sea that makes this possible, and predictable political framework conditions are crucial for us to continue this investment. The claims that the duties do not work are wrong when it comes to Lerøy's activity duty.

1.6 billion (USD 149.88 M) in investments

"Lerøy is the only company with an activity obligation, and the activity obligation works. Lerøy takes its social mission seriously, and has shown this through action by securing 600 jobs on land and 400 at sea, as well as investments of 1.6 billion in the industrial facilities after Lerøy's takeover in 2016", says Soleng.

The official opening was carried out by Fisheries and Oceans Minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss, who together with mayor Øyvind Hauken in Båtsfjord and employees in Lerøy marked a new start for a new and modern factory.

"The government wants more of the fish to be processed here in Norway. The fact that Lerøy invests so much in the fillet factory is very exciting! It contributes to optimism and a new lease of life in Båtsfjord. Now that the quota notification has been adopted in the Storting, we have a good basis for further work. What we want is to initiate a broader discussion about the framework conditions for the seafood industry. And then I'm not just thinking about the traditional whitefish industry, but about the whole seafood industry", says Marianne Sivertsen Næss.

Extensive upgrades

Lerøy Norway Seafoods has made major upgrades in both the factory and equipment. A total of 1,600 square meters of building stock has been rehabilitated, and the production equipment has been replaced with new technology. The investments ensure that fillet production is carried out in a more profitable and efficient way.

"The upgrade is an important step to strengthen our business in the region and counteract the development we are seeing with closures and increased evictions. Our goal is to create more processing and secure year-round jobs in Båtsfjord", says Soleng.

"This investment means a lot to everyone who works here. It provides security for the employees at the factory, and ensures that we can continue to contribute to the local community with stable jobs and increased value creation", says Bjarne Kristiansen, group shop steward at NNN.

Great local involvement

"The upgrade of the factory will not only increase production efficiency, but also strengthen our position as an important player in the local community. We are proud to be able to offer year-round jobs and contribute to local value creation with a new and modern factory", says Per Gunnar Hansen, factory manager in Båtsfjord.

Several local suppliers have played a central role in the development project, which has resulted in significant local ripple effects. Over the past three years, Lerøy Norway Seafoods and Lerøy Havfisk have made purchases worth NOK 159 million in Båtsfjord municipality, which has contributed to strengthening the local economy.

Mayor Øyvind Hauken is happy that Lerøy continues to invest in Båtsfjord.

"We are infinitely happy that Lerøy continues to further develop the company in Båtsfjord. Invests heavily in state-of-the-art technology and continues to provide year-round jobs at the company. We know that it is an eternal struggle to manage to obtain enough raw material throughout the year. Fortunately, you have the opportunity, through your trawlers, to deliver fish also at times of the year when the rest of the fishing fleet is struggling to deliver. You fulfill your activity obligation to Båtsfjord", says Hauken.

Young talents return home

The opening also meant a lot to Rikke Sofie Andersen (27), who was born and raised in Båtsfjord. She has recently completed her master's degree in Tromsø in economics and has got a permanent job as finance and production controller at the factory.

"It gives me a unique opportunity to come home, and at the same time using my education in such an innovative and forward-looking company here at home is incredibly rewarding. It gives me a unique opportunity to contribute to the local community,", says Andersen. 

Year-round jobs and local value creation

Source: Lerøy

Lerøy wants to strengthen its operations in the region and its year-round permanent jobs within whitefish. Lerøy has an integrated value chain with an activity obligation linked to several of the factories, such as at the factory in Båtsfjord. Lerøy's goal is to create more processing and year-round activity in the industry. We believe that the investment can be a contribution to counteracting the negative development in the region through, among other things, technology development and recruitment to the industry. The factory in Båtsfjord has an annual turnover of around NOK 420 million and 120 employees, and produces 26 million meals per year.

Source: Lerøy Seafoods (Translated from the original in Norwegian)

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