LÄNNEN TEHTAAT STRENGTHENS ITS RESOURCES IN DOMESTIC FISH BUSINESS
LÄNNEN TEHTAAT PLC STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE AUGUST 1, 2007 at 1.00 p.m.
LÄNNEN TEHTAAT STRENGTHENS ITS RESOURCES IN DOMESTIC FISH BUSINESS
The Fish Business is one of Lännen Tehtaat's strategic focus areas. In recent
years the Group has strengthened its Fish Business through corporate
acquisitions in Finland, Norway and Sweden, the aim being the creation of a
strong position in the northern Baltic region. In Finland the purpose is to turn
Apetit Kala into the leading and most profitable industrial player in the
sector. Apetit Kala's core processes will undergo further strong development,
the goal being superiority in raw material procurement, deliverability, delivery
reliability and productivity. In order to achieve this, Lännen Tehtaat is
strengthening Apetit Kala's resources.
Ari Laarne, 40, M.Sc.(Eng.), has been appointed managing director of the company
as of August 1, 2007 and Heljä Mantere, 43, Master of Food Sciences, as its
production director.
Ari Laarne will focus on the development of the company's core processes and
control of operations. He has carried out similar duties at companies such as
Nokian Tyres plc and Pilkington Automotive Finland Oy. Previous to becoming
managing director, Laarne was the IT director for the Lännen Tehtaat Group.
Heljä Mantere will be responsible for the company's production and quality, and
the development of productivity. She has previously been director in charge of
production, product development and quality control at companies such as
Liha-Saarioinen Oy and Atria Lithells AB in Sweden.
Apetit Kala Oy, a subsidiary of Lännen Tehtaat plc, produces, markets and sells
fresh fish products under the Apetit brand and retailers' own brands and sells
fish, fish products and other fresh products in its Kalatori outlets.
Net sales for Apetit Kala Oy totalled EUR 58.9 million in 2006 and the profit
after financial items was EUR 0.6 million. At the end of 2006 the company
employed some 280 people.
LÄNNEN TEHTAAT PLC
Matti Karppinen
CEO
More details:
Matti Karppinen, CEO, Lännen Tehtaat plc, tel. +358 10 402 4001
Distribution:
Helsinki Stock Exchange
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www.lannen.fi