A French entrepreneurial family has purchased a controlling stake in Danish family-owned fish farming group AquaPri.
The van der Wees family, which has its roots in retail, acquired the shares from the Priess family, which has managed the company for more than 120 years. According to AquaPri, the purchase marks the beginning of a partnership between the two families, with the hope of consolidating and expanding the company.
“Over the years, the family has developed a strong interest for aquaculture, and the investment in AquaPri is rooted in the ambition to create a new business division,” AquaPri said.
Alexandre van der Wees moved to Denmark on 1 October to take on the role of AquaPri's CEO. He has prior experience in the aquaculture industry, including leading aquaculture investments at Creadev, an investment fund.
“Aquaculture is an alternative to overfishing; it helps preserve marine wildlife and it is part of the solution to reducing CO2 emissions from the food chain,” he said. “Our goal is to contribute to the development of Aquapri, while ensuring continuity in the know-how and in the culture that made the company’s success.”
AquaPri farms more than 6,000 metric tons (MT) of trout each year, and also established a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility for zander – Saner lucioperca, or “pike perch” in 2016. The farm is the largest of its kind in the world, according to the company.
According to the company’s annual report for the period ending 30 April 2024, it sold ...
