Fish processors Lisner, Wilbo and Superfish prepare sea changes in market

Fish-processing sector leaders Lisner, Wilbo and Superfish are preparing themselves for separate consolidation processes. Superfish, which is 51% owned by Norwegian financial investor Orkla, is planning to issue new shares. 'We will not reveal details nor the purpose of the new shares issue,' said Superfish co-owner and president Wojciech Strozyna. He also added that the company planned significant investment in distribution and further adjustment of the partnership to European Union (EU) trade standards. Lisner and Wilbo are examining the market in order to undertake profitable acquisitions, with the former intending to use funds from parent company UNIQ and the latter spending its own funds earmarked for this purpose. 'We are negotiating with a few companies about taking them over,' said Wojciech Gielnik from Lisner. He also added that the outlook of the fish market would change very drastically due to decreased access to resources, and this will weaken smaller companies, increasing the tendency to stronger, bigger companies in the near future. 'The matter of acquisitions remains open. We have reserved zl.17 million for this purpose,' said Marzena Chrostowska from Wilbo, which controls about 25% of the domestic canned fish market. (Puls Biznesu, pp.1,9) M.M.