New fish factory is successful with fillet production

The fish factory Greenlandic Seafood ApS was founded in 2019 in Nuuk, but Charlie Olsen, who has a long career behind him in Royal Greenland, bought the company in February 2025, which was renamed Arctic Cod ApS.

During this period, there is a demand for the precious rockfish roe at the fish factories in Nuuk. However, Arctic Cod, which is one of the four current fish producers in the capital, has chosen to focus on cod production, primarily in the form of cod fillets.

Charlie Olsen has solid experience in the fishing industry, as he has been factory manager in Royal Greenland's fish factories in Ilulissat, Sisimiut and Nuuk, and he has also been acting regional manager in Uummannaq for the same company. In addition, he has been associated with Royal Greenland's fish factories in Denmark and Canada, respectively.

A good collaboration and alternative pricing

Charlie Olsen has built up local knowledge and has quickly established a good and close collaboration with the local fishermen in Nuuk.

- I am down at the harbour and talk to the fishermen and build a good relationship with them, and at present I have around 60 to 70 suppliers for the fish factory.

- We do not have a fixed crane on the quay and therefore use a truck to where the fishing vessels are docked. We also provide a little extra service and help them when they have to bring their bottom nets or other equipment onto the quay, he says.

At Royal Greenland's fish factory in Nuuk, the purchase price for cod with a head is 15.50 kroner per kilo, while it is 19.85 kroner for cod without a head. According to Charlie Olsen, there is a battle for suppliers in Nuuk, where competition on the market is high. But he uses alternative methods in relation to the purchase prices, he says.

- We have a main price, of course, but we follow the market closely, and we always have a price that is slightly higher than the competitors.

- In addition, we make individual agreements in relation to the price when the quality of the fish is good.

But it is equally important that the fishermen get paid as soon as possible after they have landed their catches at the fish factory, he says.

- The fishermen usually get paid the day after they have delivered the fish to us, and they naturally value that very much, he says.

Going great

Arctic Cod has the capacity to receive up to 40 tons of fish per day, and it is primarily cod, followed by halibut and catfish that are purchased.

- It is much easier to pack all the fish and send it to China. But we have chosen to produce everything locally at the fish factory, which is important because we pay our taxes in this country.

- We can make up to five tons of cod fillets a day, and have gradually become one of the largest fillet producers in Greenland, says Charlie Olsen.

Shortage of labor

Labor shortage in Greenland is a current and complex issue, which is partly due to the fact that there are challenges with attracting and retaining qualified labor, including at the fish factories. There are just under twenty employees at the Arctic Cod fish factory.

- One of the biggest challenges that we, as well as the other fish factories, are struggling with is the shortage of labor. First and foremost, I would of course like to use local labor, but it is a big challenge.

- Of course, we use the locals as much as possible. I have tried to find local labor in cooperation with the municipality, and I have offered to use someone who has challenges in life, but unfortunately, it has not been possible, he says.

That is why Charlie Olsen has also been forced to hire people from Vietnam and Thailand, which he has good experience with . The foreign employees also have housing available.

Challenges with fish waste

Arctic Cod has the capacity to produce several tonnes per day, and the company therefore has to get rid of large quantities of fish waste every week. But according to Charlie Olsen, there are major challenges associated with this.

- I have bought a waterproof container in Denmark, where I store the fish waste, which is collected by a local transport company. It is weighed at the receiving station, after which it is dumped into the sea at the night waste disposal facility.

- It costs me 13 øre per kilo to get rid of the waste, but the price will increase to 95 øre from August 1st. And since I produce around 40 tonnes of waste per week, it will be very expensive for me to dispose of the waste, he says.

In addition, Charlie Olsen will no longer use the container, but will put the fish waste in plastic bags.