Skretting
A global aquaculture-feed brand supplying formulated nutrition for farmed fish and other aquatic species.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Skretting is a Norwegian aquaculture-feed business and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nutreco, the international animal-nutrition group. Its principal activity is the development, manufacture, and distribution of formulated feeds for farmed fish and other aquatic species. The company serves producers across multiple regions and species, with products intended to support growth, health, performance, and production efficiency at different stages of the farming cycle. The brand’s corporate roots reach back to 1899, when Skretting in Norway was established as a supplier of agricultural goods. Its later identity was shaped by the consolidation of several animal-nutrition and fish-feed businesses, including companies associated with Trouw Nutrition, BP Nutrition, and regional feed manufacturers. Nutreco was created in 1994 after the divestment of BP’s agriculture and aquaculture activities, bringing many of these operations into a common corporate structure. In 2003, Nutreco united its fish-feed activities under the Skretting name, transforming a historically Norwegian business name into a global aquaculture brand. Skretting’s development has been closely linked to the growth of commercial aquaculture. Its chronology includes early production of fish feed in Norway, the establishment of research facilities for marine farming, the introduction of extruded salmon feed, and the development of feeds for species such as trout, eel, sea bass, sea bream, and marine fish. The company also expanded through local subsidiaries, joint ventures, acquisitions, and production facilities in markets including Australia, Japan, the United States, Brazil, Vietnam, and several European countries. Research is a central part of Skretting’s operating model. The Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre in Stavanger supports work on fish nutrition, feed formulation, farming performance, and the nutritional requirements of different species and life stages. The brand’s offering therefore extends beyond the physical feed product: it is associated with technical advice, nutrition expertise, farm-support services, and the adaptation of feed programs to local production conditions. According to the cited company description for 2016, Skretting operated on five continents, produced approximately two million tonnes of feed annually, supplied nutrition for more than sixty species, employed about 2,900 people worldwide, and manufactured products at seventeen production plants. These figures describe the company at that time and should not be treated as current operating statistics without newer verification. Skretting’s international head office, together with Norwegian and global management and its aquaculture research organization, is located in Stavanger. The brand’s market positioning is that of a technically oriented, large-scale specialist in aquaculture nutrition rather than a consumer-facing food brand. Its business scope covers feed for major farmed species and production stages, including starter feeds and feeds for salmonids and marine fish. The company’s history also includes work on organic fish feed, electronic product tracking and tracing, and the integration of regional brands and facilities into a common global identity. Through Nutreco, Skretting remains part of a broader animal-nutrition group while retaining a distinct focus on aquaculture.
History
Skretting’s history begins in Norway in 1899, when the company was established as a business dealing in agricultural goods. Its later transformation into an aquaculture specialist occurred gradually through the development of fish nutrition, the formation of related animal-feed companies, and the international expansion of the businesses that eventually became part of Nutreco. A significant foundation was laid in 1931 with the establishment of Trouw Nutrition in the Netherlands. Trouw subsequently became an important center for research and development in fish nutrition. Related operations were created or expanded in France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, Chile, Australia, the United States, and other markets. During the 1960s, Skretting produced its first fish feed in Norway, while Trouw’s businesses began manufacturing feed for the emerging fish-farming industry. The 1970s brought further specialization, including the Trouvit fish-feed brand, extruded trout feed in the United Kingdom, and the establishment of a research farm for Atlantic salmon and marine farming. The business expanded its species and geographic coverage during the 1980s. Fish feeds for sea bass and sea bream were produced in Italy, fish-feed production began in Australia, and an extruded salmon feed was introduced in Norway in 1983. The Aquaculture Research Centre was established in 1989, reinforcing the role of scientific and technical research in the company’s approach. In 1975, BP Nutrition was formed, and the Trouw companies, Skretting, and Moore-Clark eventually became part of that structure. In 1994, BP divested its aquaculture and agriculture activities. Those activities became part of the newly established Nutreco group, creating the corporate framework in which Skretting would later operate as a global aquaculture business. The 1990s included further development of specialized and organic feeds. Trouw Ireland received approval to produce organic fish feed in 1995 and produced its first organic salmon feed that year. In 1997, Yamaha Motor Company and Nutreco established Yamaha Nutreco Aquatech, a 50:50 company intended to sell fish feed in Japan. Nutreco also continued to build distribution and production capabilities through operations such as Trouw Yem in Turkey, founded in 2000. The early 2000s marked a decisive phase of technical and commercial expansion. A dedicated French factory began producing cold-extruded starter feeds for salmon, trout, eel, and marine species in 2001, and the business acquired a fish-feed plant in Australia. In 2003, Nutreco brought its fish-feed activities together under the Skretting name. The Norwegian operation also introduced an electronic tracking and tracing system, reflecting the brand’s emphasis on product control and supply-chain information. Skretting then expanded through both rebranding and acquisitions. Yamaha Nutreco Aquatech changed its name to Skretting in 2005 and acquired Kirin Feed in Japan. In 2008, Skretting acquired Nelson and Sons, the manufacturer of Silver Cup fish feed in the United States, and Skretting Japan acquired Marine Net production facilities. Nutreco also acquired a 51 percent stake in a Brazilian animal-nutrition and fish-feed company in 2009, leading to the formation of the Fri-Ribe joint venture. The acquisition of Tomboy Aquafeed in Vietnam followed in 2010. In 2012, Nelson & Sons was converted into Skretting USA and new US product lines were launched. By the period described in the available reference material, Skretting operated across five continents, supplied feed for more than sixty species, employed approximately 2,900 people, and manufactured at seventeen plants. Its Stavanger headquarters also houses international management and the Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre. The company’s historical trajectory is therefore one of local agricultural and feed businesses becoming an integrated, research-oriented global aquaculture-nutrition brand within Nutreco.
- 2012
Nelson & Sons becomes Skretting USA
[1]The US operation is rebranded Skretting USA and launches new product lines.
- 2010
Tomboy Aquafeed is acquired
[1]Skretting acquires Tomboy Aquafeed JSC in Vietnam.
- 2008
US and Japanese assets are acquired
[1]Skretting acquires Nelson and Sons in the United States and Marine Net fish-feed production facilities in Japan.
- 2005
Japanese operations adopt the Skretting name
[1]Yamaha Nutreco Aquatech changes its name to Skretting and acquires Kirin Feed in Japan.
- 2003
Global Skretting brand is created
[1]Nutreco unites its fish-feed activities under the Skretting name and introduces electronic tracking and tracing in Norway.
- 2001
Cold-extrusion starter-feed production expands
[1]A dedicated French factory begins producing cold-extruded starter feeds for salmon, trout, eel, and marine species.
- 1997
Yamaha Nutreco Aquatech is formed
[1]Yamaha Motor Company and Nutreco establish a 50:50 company to sell fish feed in Japan.
- 1995
Organic salmon feed is produced
[1]Trouw Ireland receives approval for organic fish feed and produces its first ten tonnes of organic salmon feed.
- 1994
Aquaculture activities become part of Nutreco
[1]Following BP’s divestment of agriculture and aquaculture activities, the businesses become part of newly established Nutreco.
- 1989
Aquaculture Research Centre is established
[1]The company creates the Aquaculture Research Centre, strengthening its dedicated research capability.
Products and positioning
A global, research-led specialist in aquaculture nutrition, combining formulated fish feed with technical knowledge and production-support services.
Aquaculture feed · 1983
Salmon feed
Formulated feed for farmed salmon, including the extruded salmon feed introduced by the Norwegian business in the 1980s. Salmon nutrition is one of the central areas of Skretting’s historical and commercial specialization.
Aquaculture feed
Trout feed
Feed products for farmed trout, including extruded trout feed and starter formulations developed for different stages of production. The company’s trout-feed activity dates back to the early development of commercial fish nutrition in Europe.
Aquaculture feed · 1980
Marine-fish feed
Specialized feeds for marine species, including sea bass and sea bream. Production of these feeds was established in Italy during the 1980s, contributing to Skretting’s expansion beyond salmonids.
Aquaculture feed · 2001
Cold-extruded starter feeds
Starter feeds made through cold-extrusion processes for young salmon, trout, eel, and marine species. A dedicated factory in France began producing these formulations in 2001.
Organic aquaculture feed · 1995
Organic salmon feed
Organic fish-feed products developed through the company’s Irish operation. Trouw Ireland received approval to produce organic fish feed in 1995 and made its first organic salmon feed that year.
Brand decisions
2012
Integration of Nelson & Sons into Skretting USAStrategyBackground
Skretting had acquired the US Nelson and Sons business in 2008.
Action taken
Nelson & Sons was converted into Skretting USA and new product lines were launched in the United States.
Aftermath
The change further integrated the acquired US operation into Skretting’s global brand structure.
2010
Acquisition of Tomboy AquafeedM&ABackground
Skretting was expanding its presence in developing Asian aquaculture markets.
Action taken
The company acquired Tomboy Aquafeed JSC in Vietnam.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Skretting’s operating footprint in Vietnam.
2008
Acquisition of Nelson and SonsM&ABackground
Skretting sought to strengthen its position in the United States, where Nelson and Sons manufactured Silver Cup fish feed.
Action taken
Skretting acquired Nelson and Sons, Inc.
Aftermath
The acquisition added the Silver Cup business to Skretting’s US aquaculture-feed activities.
2005
Expansion of Japanese operationsM&ABackground
Nutreco and Yamaha Motor Company had operated Yamaha Nutreco Aquatech as a joint venture for the Japanese fish-feed market.
Action taken
The joint venture changed its name to Skretting and acquired all shares of Kirin Feed, a subsidiary of Kirin Beer Co.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Skretting’s Japanese operating platform and aligned it with the global brand.
2003
Consolidation under the Skretting brandStrategyBackground
Nutreco operated fish-feed businesses under multiple local names and corporate histories.
Action taken
Nutreco united its fish-feed activities under the global Skretting name and also introduced electronic tracking and tracing in Norway.
Aftermath
The move established Skretting as the common international identity for Nutreco’s aquaculture-feed operations.
Recent events
- 2012
Skretting integrates Nelson & Sons into Skretting USA[1]
Product launch
Nelson & Sons was converted into Skretting USA, accompanied by the introduction of new product lines in the United States.
- 2010
Skretting enters Vietnam through acquisition[1]
M&A
The company acquired Tomboy Aquafeed JSC in Vietnam as part of its expansion in Asian aquaculture markets.
- 2008
Skretting acquires Nelson and Sons in the United States[1]
M&A
Skretting acquired Nelson and Sons, the US producer of Silver Cup fish feed, strengthening its presence in the American aquaculture-feed market.
- 2008
Skretting expands production and ownership in Japan[1]
M&A
Skretting Japan acquired fish-feed production facilities from Marine Net Co. Ltd., adding manufacturing capacity in the Japanese market.
- 2005
Skretting expands its Japanese operations[1]
M&A
The Yamaha Nutreco Aquatech company adopted the Skretting name, while the business acquired all shares of Kirin Feed in Japan.
- 2003
Nutreco unites its fish-feed activities under the Skretting brand[1]
Other
Nutreco consolidated its fish-feed businesses under the Skretting name, establishing the brand as the common international identity for its aquaculture operations.
Sources3 sources
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