Gottsacker will continue as CEO of Superior Fresh, the first commercial Atlantic salmon recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) farm in the United States.
The largest trout producer in the United States, Riverence has appointed land-based salmon farmer Superior Fresh’s Brandon Gottsacker as its new CEO, succeeding Rob Young who has led the group since 2014.
Gottsacker has been a member of the Riverence board since 2020 and holds over a decade of experience in aquaculture, at Superior Fresh, the first commercial Atlantic salmon RAS farm in the United States, where he had previously served as president.
“Brandon is the current CEO of Superior Fresh and will assume the position with Riverence as well. The two companies will operate separately. This is not a merger of the two of any sort,” said Riverence Vice President of Sustainability Todd English.
Riverence Farms and Riverence Provisions, under the Riverence umbrella, operate a total of 14 grow-out farms, producing more than 10,000 metric tons of steelhead, golden rainbow, and rainbow trout annually. These operations are supported by Riverence’s recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facilities in Washington state and employ more than 300 people.
The ownership of Riverence Holdings LLC remains a 50-50 joint venture between Spring Salmon LLC and KFF LLC. Spring Salmon LLC operates Riverence Farms and Idaho-based rainbow trout producer and processor Evaqua Farms. In 2020, Riverence Holdings LLC acquired Clear Springs Foods, making it the largest trout farming company in the United States.