Kiwi company launches premium salmon breed

Kiwi company launches premium salmon breed

New Zealand now has its own seafood version of Japan’s famed Wagyu[1] beef.

Ōra King is a new breed of salmon developed by Marlborough-based New Zealand King Salmon especially for fine dining in New Zealand and abroad.

The company says the brand represents its pinnacle of achievement, founded on more than two decades of classical breeding, reinforced by its world leading expertise in growing King salmon.

Only the finest salmon in terms of size, colour and flesh quality are selected for the Ōra King brand, according to NZ King Salmon.

Befitting such a celebrated seafood, Ōra King is available exclusively in fine dining restaurants – here in New Zealand and in Europe, Asia, Australia and North America says CEO Grant Rosewarne.

“More than ever before, chefs can deliver a superb salmon dining experience to their customers. The development of Ōra King reflects a dedication to breeding only the best fish. The King salmon species is itself a rare luxury, making up less than one per cent of the world’s salmon population.

“The Ōra King brand builds on all the fine traits of the King salmon species – it is to salmon what Wagyu is to beef,” Mr Rosewarne says.

Already international chefs are singing the praises of Ōra King with the premium brand now selectively available in Europe, China and the United States and soon to be launched in Australia and Japan

NZ King Salmon general manager of foodservice marketing Jemma McCowan says the company has been carefully monitoring global market reaction to the new brand.

“Ōra King is certainly generating some very positive feedback and support from some of the finest and most celebrated establishments in Europe and Asia,” Ms McCowan says.

“Feedback we’re getting suggests professional chefs have been waiting for a dedicated food service brand that consistently enables them to add real value to their fine dining menus.”

A commitment to quality founded on a classical breeding programme born in Marlborough more than 20 years ago represents the extraordinary base on which Ōra King has been developed.

The New Zealand King Salmon programme has resulted in 90 salmon families which are evaluated against standards of culinary excellence. And only the best are carried forward to the subsequent generation.

“Today, all our salmon embody the desirable traits resulting from the company’s careful and fastidious breeding programme. And Ōra King is the best of that breed.

“Backed by 25 years farming salmon in Marlborough and via classical breeding, responsible husbandry, superior grading and careful handling, it seems NZ King Salmon is continuing to lead the world in innovative, sustainable King salmon production,” Mr Rosewarne says.

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