The acquisition includes the remaining trout farming assets of Dawnfresh, which Mowi has not integrated into its salmon farming operations. Existing operations and employees will be retained, with several additional roles also being created. The deal completed in early April after the required consultation and due diligence.
The acquisition secures the future of Dawnfresh’s trout farming operations and its staff, and is part of SeaQureFarming Group’s long-term strategy to deploy and develop the SeaQureFarm semi-closed containment farming system, which is in the advanced stages of development.
Stewart Graham, founder and owner of Gael Force Group and SeaQureFarming Group, said in a press release: “We are delighted to have agreed this deal with Mowi which will deliver on multiple strategic objectives for us. Firstly, and most importantly, we will secure the jobs and the long-term future of Dawnfresh Farming’s operations and those joining us from Mowi. We know that there is a terrific team at Dawnfresh Farming and Mowi who have been dedicated to successfully running these trout farming operations and we look forward to securing and developing the business.
“Secondly, we will preserve the position of the Dawnfresh product in the market and seek to grow capacity, building lasting long-term supply relationships with existing and new customers alike. Finally, we will be able to develop an opportunity within the Dawnfresh operations to deploy the SeaQureFarming semi-closed containment system technology on our own sites to grow capacity, in advance of us establishing further SeaQureFarming sites and the SeaQureFarm system being launched into the wider market.”
Ben Hadfield, Mowi Scotland COO, said: “The acquisition of Dawnfresh Farming by Stewart Graham and SeaQureFarming Group represents an exciting new chapter for the companies, as well as the industry.
“It was important that the Dawnfresh trout farming team would be retained as part of the move, and we are delighted that the new group also has plans to expand. We would like to thank all Dawnfresh Farming and Mowi colleagues for their continued support, and we wish them and the new organisation well for the future.”
