Nordic seafood group Insula buys SALMA® brand from Bremnes Seashore

Nordic seafood group Insula has purchased the SALMA® brand from Norwegian salmon farming company Bremnes Seashore, the companies have announced.

The Insula group is itself owned by SalMar co-founder Gustav Witzøe's seafood investment firm Kverva, and following the deal, the SALMA ®-branded salmon will be produced at SalMar processing facilities.

The "SALMA ®" brand was launched by Bremnes Seashore in 2006 as a premium quality brand of fresh salmon. However, in December 2024, the salmon producer announced it was closing down its high-end product line, a decision that resulted in over 100 staff layoffs.

According to a company statement at the time, the branded line had struggled to maintain profitability amid rising raw material prices, increased operational costs, and changing consumer spending habits.

"SALMA ® has been very important to the history of Bremnes Seashore. We are proud of what we have built, and happy that Insula – with strong brand expertise and skilled people – is now taking the baton forward," said CEO of Bremnes Seashore, Linda Litlekalsøy Aase, in a press announcement.

The companies said that, following approval of the transfer by relevant authorities, production of SALMA ®-branded salmon will recommence at SalMar processing facilities - described in the announcement as a "sister company" of Insula.

The goal is for the branded products to be available in Norwegian retail outlets by autumn 2025.

Announcing the move, Insula Norge CEO Sigvald Rist called the brand "a beacon in the Norwegian seafood industry".

"We have great respect for the work that has been done, and look forward to preserving and further developing the brand", he added.

Insula AS was established in 2015 as a seafood group with headquarters in Leknes in Lofoten, Norway. It has a portfolio of what it describes on its website as "strong and traditional Nordic companies", specialising in processing and sales of seafood.