Per Grieg Jr was named Norway's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year during yesterday's national finals in Oslo. Photo: Bård Gudim.

Salmon farming chief is named Norway’s Entrepreneur of the Year

Per Grieg Jr, the chief executive of salmon farmer Grieg Seafood ASA, has been named Norway’s Entrepreneur of the Year in awards run by accountancy firm EY (formerly Ernst and Young).

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Grieg Seafood is headquartered in Bergen and has grown to become the eighth-largest aquaculture company in the world. 

It farms salmon in Shetland and Canada, as well as the Rogaland and Finnmark regions of Norway, Shetland and Canada, and its goal is to expand further, especially internationally, said EY in a press release.

Strategic decisions

Grieg Jr, who is also chairman of the 33,000-tonnes-per-year Grieg NL salmon farming operation currently being set up in Newfoundland and Labrador in Atlantic Canada, was presented with his award at a ceremony in Oslo yesterday.

The independent jury said of Grieg Jr: “Through good strategic decisions, risk willingness and endurance, the winner has managed to create a significant player in an international market. 

“The business has demonstrated good ability for innovation, and the growth creator is a driving force in its industry with its corporate social responsibility. The business is a significant contributor to a number of charitable purposes.”

International finals

As a winner of the Norwegian championship, Grieg Jr now goes on as Norway’s representative in the international finals. The winners of similar competitions in around 50 countries will meet in Monaco next summer.

Grieg Jr established Grieg Norwegian Salmon, which became Grieg Seafood, in 1992. The business has grown strongly and today is the main driver of the family-owned Grieg Group of companies. 

The group has decided to give 25% of the profits to charitable purposes. The main focus of its assistance is to support and educate young people globally.