Bremnes Seashore's recently-constructed production plant, which included the Salma product line.
Photo: Bremnes Seashore
Norwegian salmon company Bremnes Seashore has announced it is closing down its high-end Salma product line, a decision that will result in over 100 staff layoffs.
The move comes as the company faces mounting economic pressures, with the Salma brand operating at significant losses in recent years.
“This is an incredibly difficult message to deliver, especially right before the holidays,” said CEO Linda Litlekalsøy Aase, in a Norwegian-language press release. “We will ensure a fair and transparent process in close cooperation with employee representatives.”
The layoffs are part of a broader effort by Bremnes Seashore to reduce costs across its operations and secure the company’s long-term sustainability. Salma has struggled to maintain profitability amid rising raw material prices, increased operational costs, and changing consumer spending habits, the company said.
Announcing its decision, Bremnes Seashore said that Salma production has experienced financial losses for several years, with projections indicating continued annual deficits in the tens of millions of kroner. Rising costs and reduced demand for high-end salmon products have made it challenging to achieve the necessary sales volume for profitability, the company said.
“These economic realities mean we can no longer justify further investment in Salma,” said Aase. “This decision, while painful, is necessary to ensure Bremnes Seashore remains a robust and sustainable player in the industry.”
With the discontinuation of Salma production, the company said it would reallocate resources to focus on "other high-quality salmon products, which remain a core focus for Bremnes Seashore".
“To succeed in the future, we must be well-prepared to ensure that the salmon we produce is healthy, grows well, and maintains high quality. This requires investments in larger post-smolt production, improved marine shielding technology, upgraded harvesting facilities, and measures to enhance biosecurity. Such investments are crucial for meeting future challenges,” Aase said.
The company’s recently built factory, featuring state-of-the-art cooling, freezing, and filleting facilities, will continue to play a central role in these efforts. However, the Salma production line will be shut down as part of the restructuring.
“Salma has not only meant a lot to us as an organization but also to many others. I want to extend a big thank you to everyone who contributed to making Salma a product that inspired both locally and nationally. The product has been an important part of Norwegian food culture, and we are proud of what we have achieved. These changes ensure that Bremnes Seashore is prepared for the future and will continue as a sustainable and leading player in Norwegian aquaculture," said Bremnes Seashore majority owner Olav Svendsen.
