From modest beginnings 125 years ago on the little island of Lerøy on the southern approach to Bergen, a business has grown steadily, in good times and bad, but with a steely obstinacy.
The adventure began 125 years ago, in a small fishing shed squeezed between big boathouses on Lerøy. This is where fisherman farmer Ole Mikkel kept his fishing gear and his oselvar, a rowing boat typical of south-west Norway made of thin strips of oak and pine. It was from here that he rowed out into the mouth of the fjord to bring in what the sea had to offer.
There was something unusual about this unpretentious young lad from the little island of Lerøy. Even before Ole Mikkel was confirmed, he was receiving a “man’s share”. This means he was paid based on the catch rather than a fixed wage, something that was extremely unusual before being confirmed.
In other words, he was made for life as a fisherman. He was born at the end of the 19th century and grew up in an age before engines were a common means of propulsion. Alongside his oselvar, his tools were his oars, sail, fish pots and lines.
When he was preparing for confirmation, he was told that he was particularly intelligent and should study to become a priest or teacher. These were among the most highly regarded occupations at the time. But Ole Mikkel had already found his calling, and he stuck to his guns.
At the end of the 19th century, fishing was one of Norway’s most important industries. Fresh fish was in high demand, and fishermen from coastal communities the length of Western Norway rowed long distances to sell the day’s catch in the towns. Competition to supply the freshest fish was fierce, and only the most diligent managed to stand out.
Ole Mikkel was one of them. Because as well as catching fish, he was extremely good at selling it. He knew there was an insatiable demand for fish in Bergen. And the fish? It had to be fresh from the sea – so fresh that it almost thrashed about in the frying pan!
Around the turn of the century, the fishermen and their boats were packed close together along the pier at Torget, Bergen’s fish market. This is where they laid out their catch early in the day and where they stayed until everything was sold during the morning. Both well-to-do ladies and girls from more humble backgrounds preferred to buy from the fishermen rather than those who sold fish from crates and makeshift tables at the fish market. These were wholesalers who hadn’t caught the fish themselves, so the quality was uncertain. On the other hand, if you bought from one of the men on the quay, you knew it was fresh.
With Ole Mikkel, you got only the best of the best. And his physical strength, knowledge of fish and sound business acumen meant that he gradually built up a small business that would later grow to become one of the world’s leading seafood companies.
– “He was often called Ole Mikkel ‘Levebrød’, meaning ‘livelihood’, because he provided work for people in the town,” says Lerøy Jr.
– “Grandfather was unusually knowledgeable. For example, there aren’t many people who read a 10- or 12-volume encyclopaedia from A to Z as he did,” says Ole Mikkel’s grandson, Hallvard Lerøy Jr.
Ole Mikkel was much more than a good fisherman with a wise head. He was also extremely generous and social, and enjoyed talking to people, something his grandson can attest to.
– “Alongside fishing, talking to people was what he enjoyed most. He took care of everyone, and had a joie de vivre that was infectious,” Lerøy Jr. says.
Hallvard also remembers his grandfather as an honest businessman. In particular, he remembers when the two of them went together to sell their day’s catch. When all the fish was sold, his grandfather put the day’s earnings on the thwart and split them into three piles. One pile was for the boat and fishing gear, one for the owner of the boat and the last for the crew – young Hallvard. It was an excellent way for Ole Mikkel’s grandson to learn how business works: always make sure you put aside money to maintain and replace your assets before you calculate your profits. What Hallvard didn’t know at the time was that throughout his life his grandfather gave a tenth of his own pile to the church.
This generosity of spirit is a value that is still to the fore in the company to this day. Giving to local communities and supporting humanitarian causes where we can remains an important part of Lerøy’s identity.
Hallvard also remembers his grandfather as an enthusiastic teacher of apprentices. Just as the modern-day company sees the value of developing young talents, Ole Mikkel was passionate about teaching the younger generation.
– “He took pride in teaching the youngsters how things were done. It was the best way to learn,” Lerøy Jr. observes.
The oselvar was Ole Mikkel’s loyal companion, and he spent a lot of time in it on his trips between Lerøy and Bergen. This type of boat was known as a light and reliable rowing boat, and fast under sail. In the 19th century, wooden boats were dominant among fishermen the length of Norway’s west coast, and the oselvar had a history going back thousands of years.
In the 1890s, fish prices fell, the industry was overcrowded and an individual’s earnings from fishing were low. As if this wasn’t enough, technology changed the game, and fishermen started using bigger boats with engines. Nevertheless, Ole Mikkel still preferred the traditional oselvar, without an engine.
Hallvard says that his grandfather never really got to grips with combustion engines, so perhaps it was no surprise that he stuck to the trusty old method.
But despite his lack of knowledge of engines, he was a master when it came to manoeuvring his rowing boat.
– “The technique he used when he was rowing – the way he used his body – was a delight,” Hallvard says.
There is no doubt that Lerøy’s founder was a reasonably tough hulk of a man. The journey from Lerøy to Bergen was a real test of endurance and navigational skills. Catching and transporting live fish over long distances required an impressive effort and knowledge of the sea.
Both currents and winds played a crucial role along the route between Lerøy and Bergen. The current could be so strong that it was impossible to row against, and avoiding having to battle against it required in-depth knowledge of tides and currents. Ole Mikkel was certainly no stranger to these conditions. He was very familiar with the current’s movements and sometimes was even able to exploit it to make the journey a little easier.
Today, 125 years after Ole Mikkel started selling fish at Bergen’s fish market, Lerøy is one of the world’s largest seafood companies. The near-shore knowledge passed down from generation to generation is still at the heart of our identity. With a complete value chain and more than 6000 employees who share Ole Mikkel’s dedication, we deliver the highest quality Norwegian seafood across the world – and we look forward to the next chapter of the story.
