Monday, September 2nd, will be a milestone for us at Måsøval, as our skilled team is finally ready to start up the machinery at our “new” slaughterhouse on Hitra. This is not only a strategic investment for us, but also an important step in securing local jobs and continuing a proud tradition in the region.
From Mowi to Måsøval
The story behind our “new” slaughterhouse began when Mowi slaughtered the last salmon at Ulvan on December 30, 2023, before moving production to its new facility on Jøsnøya. Since January, we have worked to secure the takeover of this facility, and on May 8, we were finally able to sign the contract. Since then, we have worked intensively to get the facility ready for production, and now, just a few months later, we are ready to put the slaughterhouse into operation!
Securing local jobs
We are proud to be able to continue operations at the slaughterhouse, which secures over 60 jobs on Hitra, including both administration and production. Our factory manager, Stian Horten, was hired even before the takeover, and together with his dedicated team, he has ensured that things are ready for start-up.
“With this, we are continuing an important workplace in the region. Our employees are our most important resource,” says Factory Manager Stian Horten.
Stian Horten has been a key person 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 slaughterhouse for operation.
“It’s taken a few cups of coffee to get here, but now we’re up and running!” says Horten with a smile, emphasizing that the collective effort from the Måsøval team has been crucial to achieving the goal.
An important investment for the future
The slaughterhouse was taken over with all the equipment that Mowi used, and although it was operational at the time of the takeover, we have spent the summer fine-tuning and optimizing it. Now everything is ready to receive the first salmon.
This takeover not only gives us the opportunity to slaughter our own fish, but also to help other fish farmers in the area when there is a large demand for slaughtering.
“We see this as a win-win situation,” says Remy Strømskag, our head of sales and industry. “It’s good to know that we can contribute to the community in the industry.”
We look forward to continuing the work and look forward to delivering first-class salmon from our new slaughterhouse on Hitra!
Main photo: Krzysztof Zboralski
