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Start-up to launch salmon range for a ‘resource-strained world’

A new brand of Atlantic salmon is striving to establish a new path for sustainable fishing, as pressure continues to grow on marks like MSC-certified.

Xavier Govare

Chairman, Pure Salmon France

"Over 30 years of experience in the food industry, including 15 years as Chairman and CEO of Labeyrie Fine Foods (LFF) Group."

Over 30 years of experience in the food industry, including 15 years as Chairman and CEO of Labeyrie Fine Foods (LFF) Group.
Chairman and CEO of the Labeyrie Fine Foods Group since 2002, Chief Executive Officer since 2000, and Sales and Marketing Director from 1989 to 1999. Significant shareholder of the LFF Group since 1999.
Business leader who led the creation, in 27 years, of Labeyrie Fine Foods, a well-recognised food group, through aggressive organic growth policies, as well as 12 acquisitions and creation of synergies:
Turnover increased from EUR 30M in 1989 to EUR 1.1 Billion in 2016
EBITDA X 30 in 25 years

Expert in strategic vision, marketing strategy, brand development, private label, sales strategy, product innovation, as well as in P&L, and Working Capital & Investment management.
Excellent knowledge of European markets, of food customers and consumers in supermarkets, in food service distribution, and in specialised channels.
Great knowledge of the industrial food sector with more than 20 factories under management.
Expert in bank financing and high-yield debt raising.
Experiences with 3 types of shareholders: Listed company (France and Iceland), Company under LBO (3 different sponsors), Private company (foreign shareholders).

LFF Group’s main companies: Lyons Seafoods, Farne of Scotland, Labeyrie, King Cuisine, Père Olive, Blini, Le traiteur Grec, Delpierre, Labeyrie Traiteur Frozen, Salé Sucré.

Track Record:

Building of a benchmark food group in Europe with the vision of being the leader of Pleasure and Trendy Food sector.
Turned around a loss making company in 1989 into a solidly and continuously profitable company for the last 25 years since then.
Internationalization of the LFF Group. Exclusively French until 2000, LFF is today international with 45% of turnover originated outside of France.
Business diversification: smoked salmon and foie gras until 2000, multi-product and multi-market today.
Building, year after year, of solid leadership positions in all its markets and in several countries, with very strong brands in terms of image and reputation: Labeyrie, Blini, Delpierre, Farne of Scotland, Lyons Seafoods, Père Olive, etc.
Successful and continuous management of the Group with 6 shareholding changes over the last 17 years and several refinancing of all types.
Creation of a very professional management team, that is committed, senior, and loyal to the group, with a shareholding stake of up to 15%.
Close and regular management of a team of 7 General Managers, each in charge of their Business Unit and surrounded by a comprehensive management teams.
Management of the Group’s Finance and Administration Unit in charge of group financing, of the consolidation of Business Units’ results, of group management control, and of shared support functions between the Business Units.
Responsible for the management of the industrial Investment plan of EUR 35M per year.
Performance management within highly framing Business Plans and Budgets.

Directorships: Snacks International, SIA Group Savencia Fromages and Dairy, Logismose Meyers Denmark, Alliance Etiquettes and Family Service.

Over 30 years of experience in the food industry, including 15 years as Chairman and CEO of Labeyrie Fine Foods (LFF) Group.
Chairman and CEO of the Labeyrie Fine Foods Group since 2002, Chief Executive Officer since 2000, and Sales and Marketing Director from 1989 to 1999. Significant shareholder of the LFF Group since 1999.
Business leader who led the creation, in 27 years, of Labeyrie Fine Foods, a well-recognised food group, through aggressive organic growth policies, as well as 12 acquisitions and creation of synergies:
o Turnover increased from EUR 30M in 1989 to EUR 1.1 Billion in 2016
o EBITDA X 30 in 25 years

Expert in strategic vision, marketing strategy, brand development, private label, sales strategy, product innovation, as well as in P&L, and Working Capital & Investment management.
Excellent knowledge of European markets, of food customers and consumers in supermarkets, in food service distribution, and in specialised channels.
Great knowledge of the industrial food sector with more than 20 factories under management.
Expert in bank financing and high-yield debt raising.
Experiences with 3 types of shareholders: Listed company (France and Iceland), Company under LBO (3 different sponsors), Private company (foreign shareholders)

LFF Group’s main companies: Lyons Seafoods, Farne of Scotland, Labeyrie, King Cuisine, Père Olive, Blini, Le traiteur Grec, Delpierre, Labeyrie Traiteur Frozen, Salé Sucré.

Track Record:

Building of a benchmark food group in Europe with the vision of being the leader of Pleasure and Trendy Food sector.
Turned around a loss making company in 1989 into a solidly and continuously profitable company for the last 25 years since then.
Internationalization of the LFF Group. Exclusively French until 2000, LFF is today international with 45% of turnover originated outside of France.
Business diversification: smoked salmon and foie gras until 2000, multi-product and multi-market today.
Building, year after year, of solid leadership positions in all its markets and in several countries, with very strong brands in terms of image and reputation: Labeyrie, Blini, Delpierre, Farne of Scotland, Lyons Seafoods, Père Olive, etc.
Successful and continuous management of the Group with 6 shareholding changes over the last 17 years and several refinancing of all types.
Creation of a very professional management team, that is committed, senior, and loyal to the group, with a shareholding stake of up to 15%.
Close and regular management of a team of 7 General Managers, each in charge of their Business Unit and surrounded by a comprehensive management teams.
Management of the Group’s Finance and Administration Unit in charge of group financing, of the consolidation of Business Units’ results, of group management control, and of shared support functions between the Business Units.
Responsible for the management of the industrial Investment plan of EUR 35M per year.
Performance management within highly framing Business Plans and Budgets.

Directorships: Snacks International, SIA Group Savencia Fromages and Dairy, Logismose Meyers Denmark, Alliance Etiquettes and Family Service.

Kent Kongsdal Rasmussen

CEO Pure Salmon Kaldnes

"35 years of business experience at an international level"

CEO of Pure Salmon Kaldnes (4 years in charge of Krüger Kaldnes / Pure Salmon Kaldnes)
General Manager for Veolia Aquaculture and CEO of Krüger Kaldnes (Norway), a turnkey technology supplier of fish farms for the Aquaculture industry, a Market leader in Norway.
Heading the Acquisition process for Veolia Aquaculture of finding a new owner, resulting in 8f / Pure Salmon taking over the company
Prior to Veolia and Pure Salmon was, for 6 years, global CCO and General Manager for subsidiaries in Denmark and Germany for Puregas Solutions, having an ownerships position and was part of developing the company from an insignificant small company in Sweden to one of the leading turnkey biogas upgrading companies within Europe and was part of the sales acquisition process of the company to the Finish multinational company Wärtsilä (company valuation from 1 m€ to 35 m€ and achieving market leadership in several countries).
European sales director and business unit manager (Spain) for Gerresheimer plastic packaging within the pharmaceutical sector, developing and implementing a new commercial strategy for the company and in a very competitive market lifting the revenue/EBITDA and accessing new key accounts.
President Global Sales for Danfoss heating segment (largest industrial company in Denmark) present in nearly 90 countries around the world with direct staff responsibility of 430 people and 2.500 indirectly. Developed and implemented a “4C change program” giving a substantial lift to revenue (total scope of 1 bn$) in a market with strong competition. Established Danfoss Turkey and took the role as Chairman of the board, developing the company to 25 m$ turnover within 2 years. Was trusted with roles as Board Member in various subsidiaries of Danfoss.
11 years in Société de Saint Gobain in different jobs as North America Director, Sales Companies Director, Market Director and Business System Director all in different business areas with significant staff responsibility and full P&L responsibility (up to 200 m$). Was taking up responsibility within General Management, Sales, Marketing, Market & Loyalty platform, Supply chain, Procurement, Business Systems (ERP, CRM, BI etc.) and R&D.
11 years in Shell in different jobs as Project manager, Product Manager, European Sales Manager, Key Account Manager and Business Auditor on European group level.

NICOLAS METRAL

Global Head of Construction

"Over 25 years of experience working for Engineering, Procurement and Construction"

Over 25 years of experience working for Engineering, Procurement and Construction (“EPC”) contractors in the oil and gas, energy and environment industries, spanning across project management of large-scale industrial projects, set-up and management of project controls on mega projects, progress monitoring, earned value reporting, cost engineering, risk management, material control and bid preparation for EPC projects.
Prior project experience includes thermal power plant, Liquefied Natural Gas (“LNG”) regasification terminal, desalination, onshore pipeline waste-water treatment and organic waste treatment projects.
Most recent 10 years of working experience focused on waste-water and organic waste treatment facilities in roles across various countries, Canada, Hong Kong, China, France and Australia.
Joined Pure Salmon from Suez, a world leading water and waste management solution provider, where he was the Project Director of two Design, Build and Operate (“DBO”) contracts for anaerobic digestion and composting of Sourced Separated Organic Waste in Montreal, Canada.
Over 7 years at Suez, where he held other titles on different projects, such as Senior Project Manager for the design and construction of the first anaerobic digestion facility for organic waste in Hong Kong, and Acting Execution Director and Director of Project Controls in the treatment infrastructures department.
Spent 3 years at Thiess Degremont as Director of Project Controls for the Victoria Desalination Project (project cost of AUD4.0 billion), including offshore intake and outlet structures, extensive tunnelling works and off-take pipeline and transfer pumping stations, underground high voltage cable, and the project’s reverse osmosis plant.
Wide international working experience, having carried out project management roles in Australia, North and West Africa, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, China, France, Finland and Spain.
Master degree in Mechanical Engineering from Université de Technologie de Compiègne, France.

David Cahill

Global Head of Production

"28 years of experience with the largest salmon producers in the world"

Fish production operations management and new project development expert with 28 years of international experience, majority of which was with some of the biggest salmon producers in the world.
Former Consultant and Program Manager of an aquaculture development program funded by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture. This program is focused on achieving targets in the 2030 economy diversification vision of developing 600,000 tons of cage finfish aquaculture production.
Previously was Director of the Fish Business Unit of Saudi Arabia’s largest shrimp and fish aquaculture operation. He installed 3 new offshore farms in 2 years with combined capacity of 15,000 tons. He overcame technical problems in the broodstock/hatchery, expanded the business into fish processing, and latterly managed international sales and logistics. Over his 3 years of service, he built up a high performing international team through all levels.
Spent 5 years as the General Manager of Aquaculture for Huon Aquaculture, Australia’s second largest salmon producer. He trebled production to 15,000 tons per annum and covered marine site management, boat building, new site and equipment development, fish health management, feed development and contracts, environmental management of operations, R&D, government liaison, and obtaining global certifications. He also strategized 5-Year growth and development plans with budget and KPIs (financial and operational), and recruited and developed a high performing management team. The Huon business
achieved a successful IPO at the end of his tenure.
Also served as Hatcheries Manager at Huon Aquaculture for 3 years, responsible for the operation of 5 hatcheries and the development of 2 large RAS systems.
For 6 years was a Regional Business Manager for the world’s largest Atlantic salmon farmer, Marine Harvest (“MH”), in Scotland, in charge of production of 18,000 tons per annum from 17 farms and 125 employees. Was part of select team that achieved compound growth of 36% per annum for the company via organic expansion and acquisition, and cut operating costs by 25% through business evolution. During his 18 years at MH, he developed an in-depth understanding of farm management and operating / technical processes, feed development and strategies to optimize fish performance and risk management.
Also served as Fresh Water Manager for MH in Scotland for 5 years, responsibilities included production of 12 million smolt, 18 million fry and 50 million eggs from 2 broodstock farms, 9 Loch sites and 7 hatcheries including 2 RAS farms. Part of the team that led the merger of 2 of the largest salmon farming businesses in Scotland

Tag: foodbev.com

Start-up to launch salmon range for a ‘resource-strained world’

Stephane Farouze

Founder & Chairman of Pure Salmon & 8F

michael ruben

Global Head of Pet Nutrition

FIONA LEWANDOWSKI

Global General Counsel

Colin Mcdaid

Global Chief Financial Officer

Xavier Govare

Chairman, Pure Salmon France

Frederic VERBEKE

Global Head of Sales & Processing

Kent Kongsdal Rasmussen

CEO Pure Salmon Kaldnes

NICOLAS METRAL

Global Head of Construction

David Cahill

Global Head of Production

Start-up to launch salmon range for a ‘resource-strained world’

Stephane Farouze

Founder & Chairman of Pure Salmon & 8F

"Over 25 years of investment experience"

michael ruben

Global Head of Pet Nutrition

"18 years of experience in large Agri-tech-finance projects"

FIONA LEWANDOWSKI

Global General Counsel

“Over 22+ years legal and compliance experience across various industry sectors"

Colin Mcdaid

Global Chief Financial Officer

"Over 25 years experience in senior positions in international companies including in the development, construction and aquaculture industries."

Xavier Govare

Chairman, Pure Salmon France

"Over 30 years of experience in the food industry, including 15 years as Chairman and CEO of Labeyrie Fine Foods (LFF) Group."

Frederic VERBEKE

Global Head of Sales & Processing

"Over 25 years of experience in the seafood industry"

Kent Kongsdal Rasmussen

CEO Pure Salmon Kaldnes

"35 years of business experience at an international level"

NICOLAS METRAL

Global Head of Construction

"Over 25 years of experience working for Engineering, Procurement and Construction"

David Cahill

Global Head of Production

"28 years of experience with the largest salmon producers in the world"