Monday, 2nd September marks a significant day for us at Måsøval, as our skilled team is finally ready to set the wheels in motion at our "new" processing plant on Hitra. This is not just a strategic investment for us, but also a crucial step in safeguarding local jobs and continuing a proud tradition in the region.
The story behind our "new" processing plant began when Mowi processed its last salmon at Ulvan on 30th December 2023, before moving production to their new facility on Jøsnøya. Since January, we have been working to secure the acquisition of this facility, and on 8th May, we were finally able to sign the contract. Since then, we have worked intensively to prepare the facility for production, and now, just a few months later, we are ready to put the plant to use!
We are proud to continue operations at the plant, securing over 60 jobs on Hitra, including both administration and production roles. Our factory manager, Stian Horten, was hired even before the acquisition, and together with his dedicated team, he has ensured that everything is ready for the start-up.
“With this, we are continuing an important workplace in the region. Our employees are our most valuable resource,” says factory manager Stian Horten.
Stian Horten has been a key figure in the start-up phase, and over the past few months, he and a wide range of employees, from technical experts to management and staff, have worked closely together to ensure a smooth transition and prepare the processing plant for operation.
“It’s taken quite a few cups of coffee to get here, but now we’re up and running!” says Horten with a smile, emphasising that the collective effort of the Måsøval team has been crucial to achieving this milestone.
The processing plant was acquired with all the equipment that Mowi used, and although it was operational at the time of acquisition, we have spent the summer fine-tuning and optimising the setup. Now, everything is ready to receive the first salmon.
This acquisition not only allows us to process our own fish but also to assist other producers in the area during peak processing periods.
“We see this as a win-win situation,” says Remy Strømskag, our Head of Sales and Processing. “It’s good to know that we can contribute to the community within the industry.”
We look forward to continuing our work and delivering top-quality salmon from our new processing plant on Hitra!
Main photo: Krzysztof Zboralski
