Marel receives Knowledge Company award 2011

The President of Iceland, Mr. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, presented Marel with the Knowledge Company of the Year 2011 award at a ceremony yesterday sponsored by the Association of Economists and Business Graduates in Iceland (FVH). The FVH‘s annual award is given to the company seen as having demonstrated outstanding operations, especially in light of how significantly Iceland‘s business environment has changed in recent years.

“We are thankful for this acknowledgement. Being selected as the Knowledge Company of the Year is a great honour for Marel and an inspiration to our people. Marel is a company that is consistently improving and adapting to ever-changing conditions, which is an integral part of our business culture. This has enabled us to grow even when external conditions are difficult. Marel builds on innovation and market penetration. Therefore we have always considered Marel as a knowledge company, and we are proud that this award shows that others do as well,“ said Sigsteinn Gretarsson, COO of Marel Iceland at yesterday’s award ceremony.

The Judging Panel made the following comments when explaining its decision. “From its beginnings in 1983, Marel has grown from being a small Icelandic company that manufactured scales and other equipment for the fisheries industry, to being an international company with the vision to be a global leader in developing and marketing advanced equipment, systems and services to food processors worldwide. The company went public in 1991, and was listed on the Icelandic stock market in 1992. It has the longest history on the Icelandic stock exchange of all currently listed companies.“

Marel first received this award in 2002. Since then the company’s external expansion and turnover have increased significantly in line with its 2006 growth policy.

The company employs about 4,000 people in 40 countries worldwide. Marel is a leading global provider of advanced processing equipment for the fish, meat, poultry and further processing industries.