Finnish seafood companies Kalaneuvos and Nordic Trout, owned by the Hukkanen family, have acquired the Estonian firm Heimon Kala Oy.
Heimon Kala’s operations in Finland consist of fish-farming operations in Houtskari and fish-processing plants in Renko and Kokkola, although the company initiated a shutdown of its production in Kokkola last autumn.
“We want to consolidate the supply of Finnish fish feedstock and boost the export of fish products, which has developed well in recent years,” Kalaneuvos Oy and Nordic Trout Ab Chair Veijo Hukkanen said.
Heimon Kala was originally Finnish-owned but has been under Estonian ownership for several years. The most recent owner was AS PRFoods.
“Heimon Kala will now be Finnish-owned again. It’s important for us to keep this food supply chain of Finnish origin under the ownership of Finnish companies. In Finland, the chain ranging from fish farming to processing mainly consists of small companies, and we want to reinforce our position at the forefront of promoting Finnish fish. Being a family-owned business enables real long-term planning,” Hukkanen said.
AS PRFoods CEO Indrek Kasela said he hopes to continue a cooperative arrangement between the companies.
“Heimon Kala has been one of the biggest farmers of Finnish rainbow trout, and the company has invested in the sustainability of fish farming from an environmental point of view. We also see possibilities for Kalaneuvos products in the Estonian market and hope that our collaboration will continue across the border,” Kasela said.
According to Nordic Trout CEO Alf-Håkan Romar, the acquisition not only gives the company more fish through the farm in Houtskari, it also offers the opportunity to develop its other fish farms.
“We will have the chance to integrate the possibilities provided by the new farm in our entire production chain, from spawn to the breeding of alevins and fish for human consumption, and from fish processing to the finished product, together with our skilful staff,” he said. “Excellent work is done in Houtskari. I’m glad that we’ll have the chance to make use of their know-how in reinforcing the sourcing of rainbow trout raw material.”
The conditions of the acquisition are expected to be confirmed by the end of February 2022.
Photo courtesy of Heimon Kala Oy
