In 2025, Mowi Scotland celebrates a double anniversary.
Photo: Mowi Scotland.
"60 years ago, pioneering fish farmers stocked the first generation of farmed salmonids into Lochailort. I guess you can imagine their days were full of hard work, optimism and problem solving at every turn. 60 years on, our days are still full of hard work, optimism and problem solving at every turn!" With this reflection, Ben Hadfield, MD Mowi Scotland/COO Scotland, Faroes, Ireland & Canada East put into words what raising Scottish salmon was when it started 60 years ago, and still is.
"What has changed, however, is the scale of our business and its positive impact throughout the Highlands and Islands. Thanks to the hard work and determination of all our colleagues, past and present, we have built one of Scotland's largest companies, which celebrates its 60th anniversary with the aim of harvesting over 70,000t of premium Scottish salmon in 2025," he added.
In celebrating 60 years "dedicated to raising the finest salmon from sea to plate," Mowi Scotland highlighted how over this time, the industry has helped develop some of the Highlands and Islands' most rural areas on the rugged Scottish west coast.
As Salmon Scotland trade body CEO Tavish Scott noted in congratulating Mowi on its 60th anniversary, "Since the first salmon were put to sea in Lochailort, Mowi Scotland has gone from strength to strength, becoming the biggest producer of Scottish salmon and one of the biggest employers and contributors to the Highlands and Islands' economy."
"This scale has enabled the company to drive innovation in the sector, with a string of 'firsts' helping to transform salmon farming from a cottage industry to the modern, science-led, and globally renowned sector it is today," Scott continued.
However, beyond job creation, in its release celebrating the anniversary, the company has been especially proud of the other ways it supports these coastal communities, whether it's helping with much-needed housing, assisting boats in distress, sponsoring local sports teams, cleaning up shorelines, attending professional events at schools, taking the Mowi Salmon Wagon to local events to raise money for good causes, or providing salmon to food banks
The late Duke of Edinburgh during a visit with the Queen to the Mowi salmon farm at Ardnish, Lochailort, in 1974.
Photo: Mowi Scotland.
From its farms, and before being sold to consumers at major UK retailers and exported around the world, Mowi's salmon also passes through the company's processing facilities in Fort William and Rosyth.
Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Mowi's presence in Scotland, 2025 also marks ten years since Mowi Consumer Products UK (CPUK) opened its doors in Rosyth, Fife. The processing facility, which started with a team of 43 people in 2015, now employs up to 1,000 during peak production periods.
Thanks to an investment of GBP 30 million in new technology and staff training, Rosyth's has become the UK's largest salmon processing plant, a modern food factory, enabling the company to produce more than 250,000 healthy meals a week.
"Each member of our team played a crucial role in turning our dream of becoming the biggest UK salmon processor into a reality," said Bertil Buysse, Managing Director of Mowi Consumer Products Western Europe, reflecting on 10 years of innovation at Mowi CPUK.
"Together, we've faced challenges and become a versatile and agile site through long hours and unwavering commitment to high standards. Our efforts have built more than just a factory; we've built a thriving team and a future for us all," he added.
Having supplied major retailers with its own label salmon products four years ago, in 2021, Mowi launched its own consumer brand. Starting with fresh fillets and hot and cold smoked salmon, the range has expanded with new flavors and is constantly driving category growth.
The Mowi Consumer Products UK team with the first products in January 2015.
Photo: Mowi Scotland.
Looking to the future, Mowi Scotland said it has "exciting plans" in development for 2025 and beyond. Among them, it highlighted the recent acquisition of the island of Sanda, in Argyll and Bute, where it plans to bring new life to this uninhabited Scottish island by establishing a salmon farm on its east coast, as well as reinvigorating it and developing its potential as a tourism destination.
Other plans for 2025 include the completion of the next phase of the new processing facility upgrade at Blar Mhor, which will secure the long-term future of the plant in Fort William; the opening of a state-of-the-art broodstock facility at Ardessie; a new high-energy offshore farm at South Uist in Stulaigh South, which will host a maximum biomass of 3,000 tons of salmon; or that all Mowi farms in Scotland will be certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) by 2025.
This year will also see the official opening of Mowi's Inchmore Visitor Experience, which, as previously reported by WeAreAquaculture, will allow a range of interested parties to learn more about the company and the aquaculture sector when they visit the facility, and it has already been confirmed that the company will again be attending Aquaculture Days, with two other school venues confirmed, to showcase the career opportunities available in the sector.
In addition, as part of Mowi Scotland's commitment to the communities in which it operates, this month will see the opening of An Faire Mor community housing in Colonsay, with which Mowi has supported the Colonsay Community Development Company and, in 2025, the Salmon Wagon will be on the road again to raise funds for local causes.
In concluding his assessment of what these 60 years have meant for the company and its environment, Ben Hadfield said: "All of us who have participated in this great Scottish success story should take time to reflect. From those pioneering fish farmers 60 years ago putting the first smolts into the sea to those innovating within our business and contributing to the wider industry today, we can all take pride to have been part of 60 years of Mowi Scotland."
