Danish multinational corporation Sirena and UK supplier Lyons Seafood have acquired 50 percent of Les Pêcheries Marinard Ltée (Marinard), a coldwater shrimp producer based in Quebec City, Canada.
Sirena subsidiary Whitecap International Seafood Exporters, based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, has been an exclusive distributor of Marinard products and principal business partner since 2009. Lyons, a subsidiary of the European food group Labeyrie Fine Foods, is a leading supplier of prawns and other shellfish to retail and foodservice customers located in the United Kingdom.
A group of Canadian shareholders — E. Gagnon et Fils Ltée, Oneil Bond, Réal Bond, fishermen, Les Pêcheries Réal Bond inc., Fiducie familiale Oneil Bond, 9084-8789 Quebec Inc., Lelièvre, Lelièvre et Lemoignan, Roch Lelièvre et Benoît Reeves — will retain the remaining 50 percent of the company.
“We are very happy with this agreement because it moves us forward with solid business partners with whom we have built strong relationships over many years,” said Pascal Noël, president of Marinard.
“The new and improved shareholder organization fully respects the process of open, direct and loyal relationships with the local traditional fishermen and the First Nations. The history and culture of Gaspésie are well established in Marinard's commercial practices and should be maintained in its relations with its investors,” added Oneil Bond, shareholder and a traditional fisherman of northern coldwater shrimp.
“We are securing our supply of shrimp products and are becoming shareholders of a modern, state-of-the-art shrimp processing facility and one of the finest coldwater shrimp factories in the world,” said Darrell Roche, VP-sales and procurement for Whitecap.
