Finnforel to expands rainbow trout sales to the UAE
Finnish aquaculture company introduces its LoHi brand in Dubai supermarkets
UAE – Finnish aquaculture firm Finnforel is entering the United Arab Emirates retail market with its land-based farmed rainbow trout.
The company has launched its LoHi brand at select LuLu Hypermarket stores in Dubai, one of the country’s major retail chains.
Alongside this launch, Finnforel confirmed that it is preparing to extend sales through Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society outlets and Carrefour stores in the near future.
LoHi product line
The LoHi range is currently available in two formats, including 150-gram fillet portions and 340-gram twin packs, which are targeted at consumers seeking convenience and portion control.
According to the company, the brand name draws from the Finnish word for salmon, “lohi.”
Chief executive Nora Hortling said the company’s approach relies on technological systems that oversee every stage of production, from fish eggs through to packaged fillets, with the aim of maintaining quality standards and limiting environmental impact.
Retail partnerships
Gary Backhouse, Group Meat and Fish Manager at LuLu Hypermarket, said the retailer views the new product line as fitting with customer expectations for variety and consistent supply.
Founded in 2015, Finnforel operates two recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facilities in Finland that together produce around 3,000 tons of rainbow trout annually.
In July this year, the company divested its full stake in feed manufacturer Alltech Fennoaqua, selling it to co-owner Alltech.
Finnforel stated that the transaction allows it to focus resources directly on aquaculture production rather than ancillary feed operations.
The company has positioned its entry into the UAE as part of a broader strategy to place its products in international markets where demand for premium fish is growing.
By moving into the Gulf region, Finnforel joins other European suppliers looking to tap into expanding seafood consumption in markets such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Industry observers note that land-based aquaculture is becoming an increasingly visible alternative to conventional fish farming, with firms such as Finnforel pursuing opportunities in regions where sustainability and food security are high on the agenda.
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