11 August 2006
Windhoek — Hangana Seafood has moved away from catching fish to focus on producing specialised products for the European niche markets.
Last week the company inaugurated its value addition plant at Walvis Bay, which is fitted with packaging machines, a freezing tunnel, flow lines and intelligent portioning machines. These machines were introduced to optimise Hangana Seafood's product portfolio. "We are now in a position where we ask customers what they want and produce according to their specifications," said Hangana Seafood's managing director Volker Kuntzsch.
A total of N$30 million was invested in the refurbishment of the plant. "The Namibian fishing industry has been experiencing tough times for a number of years mainly as a result of volatile currency exchange rates, falling hard currency prices in customer countries, soaring crude oil prices, a lack of market segmentation, and focus on commodity products," said Sven Thieme, Ohlthaver & List Group (O&L Group) executive chairman. Hangana Seafood is owned by O&L group. Thieme said the investment is part of his company's growth plan, which aims to grow the group into a financially sound and sustainable business in line with the vision to build innovative and sustainable businesses.
He added that the O&L Group's investment would represent a vital adaptation to global macro-economic conditions which, at the moment, are rather hostile. Established in 1997, Hangana Seafood (Pty) Limited is a leading Namibian producer of white fish, predominantly Cape Hake. The company employs in excess 1000 employees and complies with South African, European and US-American food standards. Hangana Seafood's high quality fish products are exported to the USA, Australia and several European countries markets.
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