Hoping to get more people in Norway and Sweden to eat Norwegian seafood, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) has put together a new Nordic team led by the public company’s former Italian envoy, Trym Eidem Gundersen.
Gundersen will replace Sigmund Bjørgo, who has been NSC’s envoy in Sweden since 2018, and before that, the council’s envoy to China (2011 to 2018).
“I am proud, humble and feel privileged to have this opportunity to promote delicious Norwegian seafood in the Nordics. In close collaboration with the seafood industry and good colleagues in the seafood council, I promise to give everything for sustainable fish and shellfish from Norway to come to the dinner table more often,” Gundersen said.
Gundersen will take up the role in August and be based in Oslo. He will be supported by two local employees – one in Norway, and one in Stockholm, Sweden.
Prior to his five years in the Italian role with NSC, Gundersen was employed by Salmon Brands AS, where he worked a lot with the Swedish market. He has also been an export manager at TINE, and an analyst at AC Nielsen.
“The local markets are important for Norwegian seafood, and there has been a strong desire from the seafood industry to increase efforts in Norway. There are many similarities between the Nordic markets, and it gives us the opportunity to use expertise in an effective way across national borders,” NSC CEO Renate Larsen said. “We see that there is a great potential, especially in the retail trade, to strengthen the efforts in close collaboration with the manufacturers, and here Gundersen has solid expertise and long experience.”
Larsen also believes that strengthened marketing efforts in Norway will provide a good basis for realizing Sweden’s potential.
The council has some activity in Finland, and will also consider market activities in Denmark, which is an important processing market for Norwegian seafood.
Bjørgo, meanwhile, has accepted a new job at TINE as director of new international growth.
NSC Director of Global Operations Børge Grønbech explained that when an envoy leaves the position, the council always looks at its presence in that market to see if it should take action or make adjustments “to ensure that we get the most out of every krone invested in marketing.”
“Here we landed on a new model, and I look forward to taking on the work together with Gundersen and the departments at the head office in Tromsø, who will contribute their expertise in marketing, market insight and PR,” he said.
Grønbech also thanked Bjørgo for his efforts in both China and Sweden.
“During his years in the seafood council, Sigmund's strategic flair, targeted efforts and close collaboration with the industry in market development, market access and market insight, have contributed greatly to the position Norwegian seafood products have achieved in China and Sweden,” he said.
Photo courtesy of the Norwegian Seafood Council
