Zalmhuys Group, a leading purveyor of fresh and frozen fish in the Netherlands, has taken a minority stake in fellow Dutch seafood supplier Anova Seafood.
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Zalmhuys has acquired a minority interest in Anova’s processing and sales division, which is responsible for its range of fresh and chilled seafood products.
In a joint statement, the companies announced that this partnership marks “a new phase of collaboration and growth” and represents “a strategic step to consolidate their leadership in the seafood market”.
Founded in 1994 by Constant Mulder and Willem Huisman, Anova is renowned for distributing a variety of fish sourced globally to European retailers, foodservice providers, and wholesalers.
In 2018, Anova divested its frozen seafood segment to Norwegian firm Seafood Connection.
Headquartered in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, North Brabant, Anova boasts a diverse selection of fresh and chilled fish, including perch from the African Great Lakes, North Atlantic cod, Vietnamese pangasius, and Nordic saithe. The company also procures several fish species from Dutch waters, such as catfish and Claresse.
Just Food has reached out to Anova for clarification on whether it operates additional facilities beyond ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
Zalmhuys, self-described as “a market leader in fresh, frozen, and smoked salmon”, serves an international clientele spanning retail, foodservice, and wholesale sectors.
The group encompasses four brands specializing in fresh, frozen, and smoked fish: Ocean Fish, Affish, Affish Fresh, and Het Urker Zalmhuys.
Operating from Urk, a fishing village in central Netherlands, Zalmhuys sources its seafood both locally and from abroad, with imports coming from countries such as Vietnam, China, Iceland, Kenya, the Nordics, and Scotland.
Harm ten Napel, CEO of Zalmhuys Group, commented on the acquisition: “Adding Anova’s experience and product portfolio to our current business sees a lot of potential and will further strengthen our position in the seafood industry. It will greatly contribute to the philosophy ‘all your seafood in one place’.”
He further acknowledged the expertise that Koen Verburg (commercial director) and Erwin Spook (operations director), who have steered Anova Seafood since 2019, will bring to the Zalmhuys Group.
“We are confident in the growth potential that comes from combining our strengths and look forward to a prosperous future together.”