Following strong demand in the Scandinavian market, Aslak Berge’s extensively researched book, Goldfinger – The History of Mowi, has been released in English.
The book first released in Norwegian earlier this year, provides an in-depth account of the evolution of Mowi, one of the largest salmon producers in the world.
The 500-page volume is the product of over 20 years of research and offers readers a detailed look into the inner workings of the company. It chronicles Mowi’s rise from its early days in the 1960s, when industrial giants like Unilever and Hydro were key players in the nascent salmon farming industry, to its current status as a multinational corporation with a market cap of $10 billion.
Many reviews have praised the book for its ability to bring readers directly into Mowi’s boardrooms and for shedding light on key historical developments. Firdaposten, which awarded the book a five out of six, called it “a Norwegian classic thriller à la West Wing or Succession.”
The book covers the major milestones in the development of industrialised salmon farming, supported by interviews with industry leaders such as Ole-Eirik Lerøy, Alf-Helge Aarskog, Atle Eide, Ivan Vindheim, Wout Dekker, and Steve Bracken. It also explores pivotal moments like the introduction of new technologies from Scotland, Norway, and Chile, the bulk freezing of salmon in the 1990s, and the consolidation of the industry through John Fredriksen’s acquisition of Pan Fish, Fjord Seafood, and Marine Harvest.
Goldfinger also delves into Mowi’s strategic evaluations, including its exploration of ownership models and its attempts to acquire competitors like Cermaq and AquaChile. The book considers the future of salmon farming, debating whether it will be driven by open or closed pens, coastal or offshore operations, or land-based systems.
Berge, a veteran journalist with experience at IntraFish, First Securities, SalmonBusiness, and iLaks, has been closely following Mowi and the broader salmon farming industry for over two decades.
Goldfinger is published by Octavian Forlag and is available for purchase here, and also as an e-book on Amazon’s Kindle platform.
