These were the monumental words of doctor Richard Sotamaa which finally persuaded fish processing technician Viljo Orpana to buy up a forest swamp and establish the fish farm he had been dreaming of for years. It was the 1960s, and fish farming was about to take off in a big way in Finland. The swamp was situated at Lankajärvi in Finland, which is today still home to one of Taimen Group's fish processing plants.

Visions of setting up a fish breeding company first began to take serious shape under the surgeon’s knife when, following an injury, Viljo was rushed to hospital to be operated on by Richard Sotamaa. Their mutual fascination for the idea sealed the deal there and then.

Buoyed by successful fish stocking trials, they decided to take the plunge and found the company.  The company, Taimen Ltd, was officially launched on 6 March 1964 and specialised in farming and marketing salmonids. In addition to Viljo Orpana and Richard Sotamaa, the original founding members included farmers Pekka Kankkunen, Lauri Pääkkönen, Viljo Oksanen and forester Matti Tossavainen.

Fish for the international market

Operations that started with fingerling production now focused on food fish production. Taimen Group founded its first food fish farming plant in the early 1970s. Today the fish ponds stock a number of breeds, including rainbow trout, whitefish, and Saimaa Arctic charr, which pass from the pond to the dining table via the Group’s fish processing plant.

Taimen Ltd has forged a number of close international links over the years since its foundation. Roe batches have been imported from the United States, for example, where Viljo Orpana also made a study trip and contacts have also been maintained with Sweden, France and Italy.

Operations expanded to Sweden and Åland when the company acquired Ålands Fiskförädling in 2006. The acquisition nearly tenfolded the turnover of Taimen Group.

In summer 2010 Taimen acquired 30% of the share capital of Apetit Kala Ltd which in turn acquired 30% of Taimen. Under this arrangement, Taimen's subsidiary Myrskylän Savustamo Ltd was passed to Apetit Kala. Apetit Kala is part of Lännen Tehtaat plc.