Optimar

The story of Optimar is a tale of mergers, grit, and strategic evolution, with roots stretching back to 1929. It began with Peter Stette, known as the "Stette welder," who initially served the farming industry. The company pivoted to the fishing industry in 1970, building a reputation for customer focus. Modern-day Optimar, however, is the result of several companies joining forces over time. A key moment came in 1994 when, after a failed sale to external investors, the Stette family bought the company back. At just 24 years old, Peder Stette, along with his father Peter and sister Else Karin, refocused the business on machine production instead of maintenance, a move that proved highly successful. The company's trajectory took a significant turn in December 2017 when it was acquired by the German investment firm Franz Haniel & Cie. This acquisition provided Optimar, a leading provider of automated fish handling systems, with the backing to accelerate its growth and expand its global market position. The journey continued in February 2024, when Optimar was acquired again, this time by Kaldbakur, an investment company owned by the founders of the Icelandic seafood giant Samherji. This move was described as "coming home" for Optimar, placing it within a strategic network at the heart of the seafood industry. Today, Optimar is a global leader in automated fish processing systems for vessels, land-based facilities, and aquaculture.