Kames Fish Farming
Kames Fish Farming is a family-owned Scottish aquaculture company, founded 1972, that produces and supplies sea-reared Steelhead Trout to premium UK grocery (notably M&S) and high-end foodservice customers from vertically integrated freshwater and saltwater operations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersOban, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kames Fish Farming does
Kames Fish Farming Limited is a Scottish aquaculture business founded in 1972 that operates as the sole UK producer of sea-reared Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The company runs a vertically integrated operation spanning 6 saltwater sites, 5 freshwater cage sites, and 3 hatcheries across the West Coast of Scotland and Isle of Skye, with headquarters in Kilmelford, Argyll and an annual production capacity of approximately 2,400 tonnes (HOG). Its core technology is a proprietary, world-leading selective breeding programme developed over 50 years that prioritises fish welfare and adaptation to Scottish waters from egg to plate. The business holds Global GAP, RSPCA, SEPA, BSC, Marin Trust, and Terra Certified accreditations.
The company sells three primary product lines: whole Kames Scottish Steelhead Trout (3-5kg HOG), large Steelhead (3-6kg), and sashimi-grade fillets, with the product lending itself to ageing, curing, and smoking applications. Kames generates revenue through a B2B wholesale distribution model targeting two primary customer segments: premium grocery retailers (anchored by an M&S Select Farmers partnership) and premium foodservice/hospitality buyers including high-end restaurants and artisanal fish processors. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and distribution is regional within the UK. Brand marketing emphasises quality, sustainability, welfare, and the company's heritage as Scotland's only family-run independent fish farm.
The business is family-owned, controlled by the Cannon family since founding, with founder Stuart Cannon as Chairman (MBE recipient 2025) and his son Andrew Cannon as Managing Director since 2023. The company employs approximately 50 staff and operates multiple community engagement initiatives including local sponsorship and a Community Fund.
Kames Fish Farming firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kames Fish Farming
- Legal name
- Kames Fish Farming Limited
- Website
- https://kames.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Kames Fish Farming is a family-owned Scottish aquaculture company, founded 1972, that produces and supplies sea-reared Steelhead Trout to premium UK grocery (notably M&S) and high-end foodservice customers from vertically integrated freshwater and saltwater operations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kames Fish Farming industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aquaculture / Sea-reared Trout Farming
- NAICS
- Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511)
- SIC
- Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Salmonid Hatcheries (Salmon, Trout, Char) (AFAEAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aquaculture & Fish Health Services (AFAEANAE)
Keywords
Where Kames Fish Farming is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oban
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Kames Fish Farming business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Steelhead Trout Product Sales: Sale of sea-reared Steelhead Trout products including whole fish (3-5kg HOG weight) and sashimi-grade fillets. Products also lend themselves to ageing, curing and smoking.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kames Fish Farming product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kames Fish Farming produces sea-reared Steelhead Trout in Scotland through a vertically integrated breeding programme. The company supplies whole fish (including 3-5kg HOG grade) and sashimi-grade fillets to premium retail, foodservice, and artisanal processing customers.
Product overview
Kames Fish Farming operates as an aquaculture company producing premium sea-reared Steelhead Trout from its own unique, award-winning breeding programme. The company offers three main product lines: Kames Scottish Steelhead Trout (whole fish), 3-5kg HOG (Head On Gutted) Trout, and Sashimi-grade Fillets. All products come from the same vertically integrated breeding programme, ensuring quality from egg-to-plate. The trout is known for its exceptional size (3-6kg), clean taste, firm texture, and high Omega 3 content. Products lend themselves to various preparations including fresh consumption, ageing, curing, and smoking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Kames Scottish Steelhead Trout (whole fish, 3-5kg HOG) Sea-reared Scottish Steelhead Trout whole fish, graded around 3-5kg HOG, sold to premium UK grocery retail, foodservice, and artisanal processing customers.
- Sashimi-grade Steelhead Trout Fillets Sashimi-grade fillets cut from sea-reared Scottish Steelhead Trout, supplied to premium foodservice operators and artisanal processors who require restaurant-quality, ready-to-use portions.
Companies that use Kames Fish Farming
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kames Fish Farming technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Kames Fish Farming partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Wild Fisheries TrustscoreKames works with Wild Fisheries Trusts in each location to monitor salmon and trout welfare in local rivers and support regeneration programmes in their hatcheries. This partnership ensures environmental stewardship and supports wild fish populations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kames Fish Farming competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Loch Duart: Scottish independent salmon farmer based in Sutherland and the Hebrides. Like Kames, Loch Duart is a smaller, premium-positioned Scottish aquaculture business selling to UK retailers and chefs with strong sustainability credentials — a closely comparable niche freshwater/saltwater operator.
- Wester Ross Salmon: Family-run Scottish salmon farm in the northwest Highlands, focused on slow-reared, premium fish. Closely comparable to Kames in family ownership, small-scale artisanal ethos, premium retail/foodservice positioning, and Scottish geography.
- Troutlodge: US-based all-female rainbow trout egg supplier and breeding specialist. Troutlodge is a direct peer in the salmonid breeding and hatchery space, and its genetics-focused model parallels Kames' world-leading breeding programme — a key part of Kames' competitive moat.
Broad incumbents
- Mowi: The world's largest Atlantic salmon producer, with operations in Scotland (including former Marine Harvest Scotland sites). Mowi is a broad incumbent in salmon aquaculture overlapping with Kames on saltwater cage production in Scottish waters and UK retail supply, though at vastly larger scale.
- Bakkafrost: Faroese vertically integrated salmon producer with significant freshwater smolt and saltwater operations. Comparable to Kames on vertical integration and salmonid farming, though serving global rather than UK-focused retail and foodservice markets.
- Lerøy Seafood Group: Norwegian-headquartered seafood group with significant salmon and trout farming operations. Lerøy's trout business (Ocean Farm) directly overlaps with Kames' sea-reared salmonid niche, and its premium European retail positioning parallels Kames' M&S-focused model.
- Scottish Sea Farms: One of the UK's largest salmon farmers, operating across Scotland's west coast and Shetland. While Kames focuses on sea-reared Steelhead Trout, both companies operate saltwater cage sites in Scottish lochs and serve UK retail and foodservice channels, making Scottish Sea Farms a direct scale comparable.
- Grieg Seafood: Norwegian-headquartered salmon farmer with operations in Norway, Scotland (Shetland), and Canada. Comparable to Kames as a salmonid aquaculture operator with Scottish saltwater presence, though at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- Cooke Aquaculture: Canadian-headquartered vertically integrated salmon farmer with operations in Scotland (including former Meridian Fish Farms). Comparable to Kames as a vertically integrated salmonid producer serving UK retail, though at significantly larger scale.
Emerging players
- Hendrix Genetics (Aqua Division): Multi-species animal breeding company with a trout and salmon aquaculture genetics programme. Comparable to Kames as a salmonid genetics and breeding technology provider, representing both competition and a potential genetics-licensing counterpart for Kames' breeding programme.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kames Fish Farming social profiles
Digital presenceKames Fish Farming compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Kames Fish Farming financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kames Fish Farming leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Kames Fish Farming funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kames Fish Farming M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kames Fish Farming
What does Kames Fish Farming do?
Kames Fish Farming produces sea-reared Steelhead Trout in Scotland through a vertically integrated breeding programme. The company supplies whole fish (including 3-5kg HOG grade) and sashimi-grade fillets to premium retail, foodservice, and artisanal processing customers.
Is Kames Fish Farming a public or private company?
Kames Fish Farming is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Kames Fish Farming founded?
Kames Fish Farming was founded in 1972. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Kames Fish Farming based?
Kames Fish Farming is headquartered in Oban, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Kames Fish Farming make money?
One revenue line is on record: steelhead Trout Product Sales.
Who are Kames Fish Farming's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Loch Duart, Wester Ross Salmon and Troutlodge. Broad incumbents are Mowi, Bakkafrost, Lerøy Seafood Group, Scottish Sea Farms, Grieg Seafood and Cooke Aquaculture. Hendrix Genetics (Aqua Division) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kames Fish Farming have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kames Fish Farming.
What industry is Kames Fish Farming in?
Kames Fish Farming's product category is Aquaculture / Sea-reared Trout Farming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAKAD, Salmonid Hatcheries (Salmon, Trout, Char), with a secondary code of AFAEANAE, Aquaculture & Fish Health Services. Its NAICS code is 112511 and its SIC code is 2092.