Hangana Seafood on right path

OFF the Namibian coast, the unpolluted, rich Benguela current abounds with untapped potential for Namibia’s seafood harvesting, processing and exports.

Nearby, in the coastal town of Walvis Bay, is the Hangana Seafood factory. The company, which gives jobs to over 1 000 employees, is one of the largest employers in Namibia’s second largest industry sector after mining.Here business prospects are good – Hangana Seafood has had an exceptionally good year.”Yes, we performed very well during 2007,” said Peter Gruettemeyer, the company’s acting Managing Director.”The first few months of our previous financial year were marked by good catch rates and a high percentage of value-added products as opposed to commodity products,” maintained the veteran executive who, following the departure of Volker Kuntzsch in January this year, had arrived from Hangana Seafood’s mother company Ohlthaver & List Group to temporarily see to matters.Like the legendary Phoenix, the company has risen from the ashes.Gruettemeyer pointed out that Hangana Seafood had, similar to many fishing companies, been going through years of great financial losses, stagnating growth and unfavourable macro-economic conditions.Gruettemeyer attributed the recent success to value-adding production, improved operational efficiency, a favourable exchange rate, as well as good prices for the product on the European market.Having reported a pre-tax profit of N$29 million, the company now sees itself on the path towards sustainability.Despite the good performance, Gruettemeyer advocates joining forces with stakeholders and players in the industry.He conceded that Namibian fishing companies in the past largely failed to recognise the opportunities that emerged with the process of globalisation.At Hangana Seafood, 90 per cent of the company’s products are exported to Europe.”Now imagine,” he said, “if we were to join forces in Namibia so as to diversify our exports into new markets outside Europe.Imagine if we were to establish a Namibian brand that will be recognised for its superior quality – would we fetch higher prices on the world market?” “We put emphasis on a good organisational climate that enables our employees to succeed.”This, according to Gruettemeyer, also includes nurturing good relationships between management and staff through transparent and reliable communication.The company, which gives jobs to over 1 000 employees, is one of the largest employers in Namibia’s second largest industry sector after mining.Here business prospects are good – Hangana Seafood has had an exceptionally good year.”Yes, we performed very well during 2007,” said Peter Gruettemeyer, the company’s acting Managing Director.”The first few months of our previous financial year were marked by good catch rates and a high percentage of value-added products as opposed to commodity products,” maintained the veteran executive who, following the departure of Volker Kuntzsch in January this year, had arrived from Hangana Seafood’s mother company Ohlthaver & List Group to temporarily see to matters.Like the legendary Phoenix, the company has risen from the ashes.Gruettemeyer pointed out that Hangana Seafood had, similar to many fishing companies, been going through years of great financial losses, stagnating growth and unfavourable macro-economic conditions.Gruettemeyer attributed the recent success to value-adding production, improved operational efficiency, a favourable exchange rate, as well as good prices for the product on the European market.Having reported a pre-tax profit of N$29 million, the company now sees itself on the path towards sustainability.Despite the good performance, Gruettemeyer advocates joining forces with stakeholders and players in the industry.He conceded that Namibian fishing companies in the past largely failed to recognise the opportunities that emerged with the process of globalisation.At Hangana Seafood, 90 per cent of the company’s products are exported to Europe.”Now imagine,” he said, “if we were to join forces in Namibia so as to diversify our exports into new markets outside Europe.Imagine if we were to establish a Namibian brand that will be recognised for its superior quality – would we fetch higher prices on the world market?” “We put emphasis on a good organisational climate that enables our employees to succeed.”This, according to Gruettemeyer, also includes nurturing good relationships between management and staff through transparent and reliable communication.