Copyright

Steve Robinson    Tom Seaman   

April 15. 2009

In these turbulent economic times, it is critically important to keep an eye on leading companies for clues into where the industry is headed.

Tracking the ups and downs of leading seafood firms helps other companies detect trends, benchmark their company’s performance and gain insight into the financial markets and the broader seafood market.

Before you can track the leading companies you first need to know which companies to watch.

In this new report, IntraFish Media, the leader in global seafood news and analysis, analyzes the recent performance of Europe’s Top 25 seafood firms.

After years of massive growth and expansion, Europe’s Top 25 seafood companies saw sales slow in 2008.

With the salmon industry weathering tough economic conditions, the processing sector feeling the squeeze and consumer spending contracting thanks to the ongoing global recession, 2008 was not as marked by the same spectacular deals and acquisitions as in year’s past.

Even so, many comapnies in this year’s listing of Europe’s Top 25 posted financial growth.

In particular, processing firms backed with big equity money – FoodVest and Birds Eye Iglo – continued their expansion. Other cash-rich firms such as Japanese giant Nippon Suisan Kaisha (Nissui) and Austevoll Seafood rocketed up the list as well.

The Top 25 seafood companies in Europe now account for over €14.6 billion in annual sales, 4.3 percent more than in 2007, and a whopping 22.4 percent higher than in 2006.

By the end of 2008, there were five billion-dollar-plus seafood companies in Europe, compared with just one only four years ago.

The Top 25 European Seafood Companies list features:

• A full ranking of European companies by 2008 sales figures, with comparisons to previous years’ performance;
• Key company personnel, contact information and company details;
• A listing of Europe’s fastest growing seafood firms.

IntraFish’s Top 25 European Seafood Companies report is the only accurate ranking of the most important players in the seafood sector, and an essential business tool.

EUROPE / US / SCANDINAVIA