Seven trout farms and five hatcheries across Scotland and Northern Ireland have been saved from closure as Mowi snaps up aquaculture operations formerly owned by Dawnfresh Seafoods.
Dawnfresh, which fell into administration in last year, was one of the UK's largest producers and processors of fish and seafood. Founded in 1973 and based in Uddingston, Glasgow, the company supplied seafood to retail, wholesale, food service and export market clients.
Unsustainable cash flow problems and overcapacity at Dawnfresh's Uddingston processing facility put an end to the company's viability, despite investments to upgrade plant, improve efficiency and reduce costs. However, Dawnfresh's trout farming subsidiary recorded a net profit of £2.24m in its last accounts for the year to March 2022, with administrators confident they would find a buyer for the business.
Ben Hadfield, COO of Mowi Scotland, Ireland and Faroes, was appointed director of Dawnfresh Farming on 7 February. The acquisition sees Mowi tap into the growing trout sector, while continuing to expand its operations in Scotland. The takeover has also secured 67 rural jobs, including farms located at Loch Awe, Loch Earn, Glen Devon and Kinnaird near Brechin. The news follows Mowi's acquisition last year of Wester Ross Fisheries, one of the last independent salmon farmers in Scotland.
Other seafood companies took over Dawnfresh's seafood processing operations. Its Uddingston processing plant was acquired by Thistle Seafoods, while Arbroath-based subsidiary RR Spink was sold to Lossie Seafoods, part of the Associated Seafoods group.
Mowi Scotland is the UK's largest supplier of farm-raised salmon, and an integrated seafood company – with expertise in feed production, salmon farming, processing and marketing. Mowi Scotland employs 1500 staff who raise fresh Atlantic salmon for domestic and export markets around the world.
