Business as usual for Ventisqueros

Chilean salmon farmer Ventisqueros will “build on the current positive momentum” in the sector after the German family company that owns it scrapped plans to sell it.

Chilean media outlet La Tercera reported that a few weeks ago that Brazilian meat processing giant JBS, which owns Tasmanian salmon farmer Huon Aquaculture, was negotiating to buy Ventisqueros, with the Dutch bank Rabobank as an intermediary.

But Ventisqueros said the global climate for mergers and acquisitions operations was poor and its owner, the Munich-based Schörghuber family group, had decided to keep the fish farmer in its portfolio.

55,000-tonne target

The farmer pointed out that over the course of the last ten years it has increased its production volume from 20,000 gross tonnes to more than 47,000 tonnes in 2022, with the goal of reaching a harvest volume of 55,000 gross tonnes in the near future.

This development, which delivered exceptional financial results, was also supported by the investment of more than US$100 million in maritime infrastructure, biomass growth and personnel recruitment, said Ventisqueros.

“These investments have created one of the most sustainable and technologically advanced operations in Chile. In particular, Ventisqueros has been a pioneer in the industry with the use of remote feeding based on artificial intelligence.”

Responsible management

Ventisqueros chief executive José Luis Vial said the decision to stop the sale process is consistent with the general business approach of the Schörghuber Group.

“Since the Schörghuber family took control of the company more than 20 years ago, they have maintained a responsible and pragmatic management style. They evaluate each strategic option in the same way as each of their investments, most of which are decades old,” he said.