Troutlodge sales manager netted by English fish farm
Jon Handley, the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) regional sales manager for trout egg producer Troutlodge, has resigned from the role but will continue as its UK distributor, the company said yesterday.
US-based Troutlodge, owned by Netherlands company Hendrix Genetics, said Handley had taken “an opportunity he could not resist” to take over the operation of Berkshire Trout Farm.
The 15-acre farm dates from the turn of the last century. Digging out the stock ponds started in 1900 and it took 200 labourers over four years to dig out the original 50 ponds.
Hard-fighting fish
A hatchery was established at the site in 1904 and the new farm finally opened for business in 1907 and has traded continuously ever since then.
Today the farm has more than 60 ponds and is the largest trout farm in the UK to supply both brown trout and rainbow trout for restocking and rainbow trout for smoking. It has the capacity to hatch 10 million eggs per annum.
It grows on more than three million fish annually and prides itself on producing top quality “hard-fighting” fish for the angling market.
30 years in aquaculture
Troutlodge said in a press release that Handley, who had 30 years’ experience in aquaculture, including five dedicated to trout, will provide UK trout producers with easy access to “the best performing trout genetics in the industry”.
Keith Drynan, general manager of Troutlodge, commented: “We wish Jon all the best with his new venture. Although we are going to miss his contribution to our sales team, we welcome Jon with great confidence to our distribution network. With his technical skills and our trout genetics, we believe mutual success is guaranteed.”
Troutlodge is the world’s leading supplier of eyed rainbow trout eggs and specialises in the production of all-female and triploid (sterile) eggs.
