Fishing-farming business exporting sushi-grade trout to Japan

Original Story Published by: Chito Siame, www.howwemadeitinafrica.com
Photo Source: Courtesy of www.howwemadeitinafrica.com

(Above) Sanlei operates from the Katse Dam in Lesotho

Pre-pandemic, Mergence Investment Managers acquired a significant minority interest in Sanlei, an integrated aquaculture producer of Africa’s largest sushi-grade trout, primarily for export to Japan and South Africa. The word “Sanlei” is loosely translated from Japanese as “where the mountains meet the sky”.

As a commercial-scale rainbow trout farm, Sanlei is located on the edge of the Katse Dam in the remote highlands of Lesotho; a site known for its deep, pristine waters and highly favourable environment for growing premium trout.

The company has successfully farmed rainbow trout for the South African market over the past 12 years and has the licence and physical infrastructure capacity to supply the entire South African rainbow trout market.

In Japan, Sanlei has a strategic marketing and distribution agreement with co-operative grocery chain Japan Co Ltd which has more than 4,000 stores and is Japan’s second largest joint procurement supermarket chain. Sanlei can attract other potential customers, particularly in the European Union, should it scale up its operations