Premier Fishing
Vertically integrated fishing, aquaculture, and processing operations.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
N/A | - | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Premier Fishing and Brands Limited is a commercial fishing, fish processing, and marketing company founded in 1952 in South Africa. As one of the largest black-owned and managed fishing companies in the country, it operates a vertically integrated business model, managing a significant value chain that includes production facilities, fishing vessels, an aquaculture farm, and an international sales and marketing footprint. The company's diverse product portfolio includes west and south coast rock lobster, squid, hake, pilchards, anchovy, and cultivated abalone. A significant portion of its sales are generated from exports to the United States, Europe, and Asia.
The company holds long-term fishing rights for several key species in South African waters. Premier Fishing's operations are based in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces, with facilities in locations such as Cape Town, Hout Bay, Saldanha, and Gansbaai, where its abalone aquaculture farm is located. Through its subsidiary Marine Growers, the company farms South African abalone, a high-demand product, particularly in the Far East, contributing to the species' sustainability amid aggressive poaching of wild stock. Another division, Premfresh Seafoods, manages the sales and marketing of its products. The company also produces an organic fertilizer under the Seagro brand.
Premier Fishing was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in March 2017 to raise capital for organic growth and acquisitions, including the expansion of its abalone farm. It was subsequently delisted in July 2023. The company is a subsidiary of African Equity Empowerment Investments (AEEI), which in turn is part of the Sekunjalo Investment Holdings group. Throughout its history, Premier has focused on building partnerships with smaller, black-owned companies and investing in the communities where it operates.
Keywords: commercial fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing, rock lobster, abalone farming, South Africa fisheries, sustainable fishing, squid exporter, hake fishing, pelagic fish, fish marketing, vertical integration, agri-biotechnology, Seagro fertilizer, Marine Growers, Premfresh, Talhado Fishing, African Equity Empowerment Investments, JSE listed, food and fishing