the Father Figures of Kvaroy Arctic
With Father’s Day around the corner, we’re acknowledging and appreciating the father figures who created Kvaroy Arctic and have taken it from a sustainable, Norwegian salmon farm to an international leader and innovator in the seafood industry.
In tracing this journey, we look back on our own history with gratitude, respect, and warm memories—particularly toward the wise man who started the farm, all the hard-working men who worked there with him, and those who are continuing their legacy today.
Here’s their story: Back in 1976, Alf Olsen and his son Geir founded Kvaroy Arctic. Almost 50 years later, the family business continues and is still driven by the same goal set by our grandfather: “to provide salmon of very high quality, without compromising either the environment or the welfare of the fish.”
Now if you picture a tiny, remote piece of land amidst the rough water of Norway’s Arctic Circle, that’s essentially Kvaroy Island. Just like any small island communities around the world, the local community living on Kvaroy faces a lack of job diversity, as well as an abundance of economic and environmental challenges.
That’s the life today for our CEO, Alf-Goran Knutsen. Alf is also a loving father, a husband to Ida (Geir’s incredible daughter and part owner of the farm), a community caregiver, and an innovative visionary.
Before becoming the current CEO, Alf-Goran was studying to be an economics teacher. But at the behest of his future father-in-law, he chose to pivot his career towards aquaculture. He inherited not just another job, but yet another colossal responsibility—to take care of the islanders, the majority of whom work for our farm.
Concerned about the future, livelihood, and well-being of his community, in which one-third of the locals are children, Alf-Goran went from nourishing students’ minds to providing sustenance for his community and the future generations.
These men are the father figures we are so grateful and humbled to have in our lives, especially as we tap into their wisdom. They are the community pillars of our small island. We hope other communities and key industries around the world recognize and uplift the inspiring, caring, and thoughtful father figures that take care of the future generations and the home we are building for them.
Happy Father’s Day!
