Aker QRILL Company
Aker QRILL Company is the world's largest harvester of Antarctic krill, producing krill meal and oil ingredients (QRILL Aqua, QRILL Pet, QRILL Pharma) for aquaculture feed blenders, pet food manufacturers, and nutraceutical brands globally, with operations in Norway and a fleet expansion underway.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersLysaker, Norway
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Aker QRILL Company does
Aker QRILL Company is the world's largest harvester of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), operating from a fleet of three vessels — Saga Sea, Antarctic Sea, and Antarctic Endurance — with a fourth vessel under agreement for 2026 delivery. Spun out of Aker BioMarine in September 2024 under joint ownership of American Industrial Partners and Aker Capital, the company is headquartered in Lysaker, Norway, and holds more than 50% of global krill catch volume. Its harvesting is conducted under patented Eco-Harvesting technology with reported bycatch rates of 0.1–0.3%, and operations are MSC-certified since 2010 with annual catch kept below 1% of standing biomass.
The company converts raw krill into three primary ingredient lines: QRILL Aqua (aquaculture feed), QRILL Pet (pet food ingredient), and QRILL Pharma (nutraceutical phospholipid and omega-3 oils), sold B2B to feed blenders, pet food manufacturers, and supplement brands globally. Underpinning operations is the Krillviz data platform — winner of a 2025 Gartner Eye on Innovation Award — which applies machine learning and analytics to two decades of Antarctic biomass data, supported by partnerships with Cognite, Maritime Robotics, and NextBridge Analytics, and by the 2025 acquisition of the autonomous drone-vessel Antarctic Enabler.
Revenue is generated through B2B ingredient sales across aquaculture, pet food, and nutraceutical segments, with a global distribution footprint and recent commercial expansion into Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam) and China. Growth is being driven by a fourth harvesting vessel scheduled for 2026, a strategic partnership with Gambol Pet Food Group (December 2025), the public launch of the Krill Science Hub ecosystem, and the appointment of a new CCO in 2026 focused on commercial expansion.
Aker QRILL Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aker QRILL Company
- Legal name
- Aker QRILL Company
- Website
- https://theqrillcompany.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Aker QRILL Company is the world's largest harvester of Antarctic krill, producing krill meal and oil ingredients (QRILL Aqua, QRILL Pet, QRILL Pharma) for aquaculture feed blenders, pet food manufacturers, and nutraceutical brands globally, with operations in Norway and a fleet expansion underway.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aker QRILL Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Aquaculture Feed Ingredients
- NAICS
- Aquaculture (11251), Other Animal Food Manufacturing (311119)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crustacean Farming (e.g., shrimp, prawns, crab) (AFAEAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Aquaculture Feed & Nutrition (farm-level feed programs) (AFAEAAAL), Sustainable & Alternative-Protein Aquafeed (Insect, Algae, Single-Cell, Byproduct-Based) (AFADADAM), Aquaculture Feed & Nutrition (HLAMAHAF)
Keywords
Where Aker QRILL Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lysaker
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Aker QRILL Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- QRILL Aqua Products: Sale of Antarctic krill-derived meal and oil products for use in aquaculture feed. Products are sold to feed companies and farmers globally, with natural product variations allowing customization of fat and protein content.
- QRILL Pet Products: Sale of krill meal and oil products for pet food and supplements. Products deliver phospholipid-bound omega-3 fatty acids, choline, and astaxanthin for pet health applications.
- Nutraceutical Raw Materials: Supply of krill-based raw materials for human health nutraceutical products derived from Antarctic krill harvesting.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Customized product specifications based on customer requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Aker QRILL Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aker QRILL Company harvests Antarctic krill and produces krill-based meal and oil ingredients for use in aquaculture feed (QRILL Aqua), pet food and supplements (QRILL Pet), and nutraceutical raw materials for human health products. The company sells these ingredients globally to feed companies, pet food manufacturers, and aquaculture operations, with customized specifications for fat and protein content based on seasonal variations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- QRILL Aqua: Products derived from Antarctic krill used in feeds for farmed fish and shrimp. QRILL Aqua products serve as functional ingredients in aquaculture feed, providing nutrients and attractant qualities.
- QRILL Pet
Products and services
- QRILL Aqua QRILL Aqua products are Antarctic krill-derived meal and oil used as functional ingredients in feed for farmed fish and shrimp. Products deliver phospholipid-bound omega-3 fatty acids, astaxanthin, and choline to improve feed intake, growth performance, fillet quality, and health outcomes. Sold to feed companies and aquaculture operations globally.
- QRILL Pet QRILL Pet products are Antarctic krill meal and oil formulated for use in pet food and pet supplements. Products deliver phospholipid-bound omega-3 fatty acids, choline, and astaxanthin to support omega-3 status, anti-inflammatory benefits, and health across pet life stages. Sold to pet food manufacturers globally.
- Krill-Based Nutraceutical Raw Materials Krill-based raw materials supplied for human health nutraceutical products. These ingredients provide high-quality marine omega-3 phospholipids, astaxanthin, and choline derived from Antarctic krill for use in dietary supplements and human nutrition applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 0.1-0.3% bycatch rate (cleanest fishery globally vs 10-55% industry average)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Aker QRILL Company
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aker QRILL Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
Aker QRILL Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Gambol Pet Food GroupcoreGlobal strategic cooperation agreement signed December 2025, elevating relationship from supply chain partner to strategic alliance. Joint R&D combining marine nutrition research with pet behavior data, ESG collaboration on animal welfare and marine protection, and brand co-creation for global consumers.
- EATflagshipPartnership for Stockholm Food Forum 2025 to spotlight role of blue foods in healthy diets and environmental sustainability. Co-hosting dedicated session on scaling marine-based foods sustainably.
- Clinton Global InitiativeflagshipParticipation at CGI for Antarctic MPA proposal advocacy and cross-sector collaboration on ocean protection.
- Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI)corePartnership with King Charles III's SMI on Ocean Stewardship Initiative, supporting proposed 455,957 km² Marine Protected Area covering 70% of Antarctic Peninsula. Initiative aims to mobilize private sector support for ocean governance and science-based fisheries management.
- Marine Stewardship CouncilcoreMSC provides advice and certification for the Ocean Stewardship Initiative. MSC-certified krill fishery since 2010.
- Tersan ShipyardcoreAgreement to construct fourth state-of-the-art krill fishing vessel. Vessel to be built and significantly rebuilt for specialized krill harvesting requirements.
- Maritime RoboticscorePartnership to produce Mariner USV (unmanned surface vehicle) for krill search and research. Six-meter drone equipped with sensors for Antarctic operations.
- Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR)coreCollaboration since 2011 for annual krill biomass surveys and ecosystem monitoring. Aker vessels serve as research platforms. 10-year collaboration published in scientific paper confirming precautionary harvest levels.
- Pew Charitable TrustsflagshipNGO collaboration for year-round permanent closure of 4500km² area around Hope Bay for penguin protection.
- CognitecoreDigitalization partnership to use Cognite's industrial data platform for data from harvesting and manufacturing operations. Goal to increase efficiency and reduce fuel consumption through machine learning.
- NextBridge AnalyticscoreStrategic alliance for AI and machine learning applications using Cognite platform to build real-time streaming data applications for intelligent production facilities and sustainable harvesting.
- GreenpeaceflagshipUnprecedented industry support for Greenpeace Antarctic Ocean protection campaign. Voluntary commitment to stop fishing in ecologically sensitive areas around Antarctic Peninsula.
- WWFflagshipCollaboration on voluntary conservation measures and Antarctic marine protection advocacy.
- Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWR)coreCo-founded in 2015 alongside WWF-Norway and ASOC to promote ecosystem research. Aker BioMarine has supported AWR with over USD 1 million for Antarctic science projects.
- Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies (ARK)coreFounding member of ARK, coordinating with CCAMLR on research and information about krill fishery and ecosystem impact. ARK represents 85% of Antarctic krill industry.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aker QRILL Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pelagia: Leading European fishmeal and fish oil producer, now owned by Cargill. Comparable as a marine-based ingredient supplier to the aquaculture feed industry, competing for inclusion in fish and shrimp feed formulations.
- Rimfrost (GC Rieber): Norwegian krill harvesting company (formerly Rimfrost) acquired by GC Rieber. Directly competes with Aker QRILL in Antarctic krill harvesting and krill oil/meal production, serving similar aquaculture and nutraceutical customers.
Broad incumbents
- Croda International: Global specialty chemicals and ingredients company with marine-derived omega-3 products serving nutraceutical, animal nutrition, and personal care markets. Comparable as a science-driven premium ingredient supplier with B2B enterprise sales model.
- DSM-Firmenich: Global nutrition and health company with substantial animal nutrition and aquaculture feed additive businesses (including omega-3 and sustainability-focused ingredients). Comparable as a supplier of specialty, science-backed feed ingredients at global scale.
- Aker BioMarine: Former parent of Aker QRILL Company before the 2024 spin-out; continues to operate in krill-derived products (ingredients and consumer brands) and other marine ingredients. Provides a direct benchmark for the krill business model and market positioning.
- Cargill Animal Nutrition: One of the largest global animal feed and aquaculture nutrition providers, also owner of Pelagia. Comparable as a buyer of marine ingredients (and potential competitor in sustainable marine-derived feed inputs) at enterprise scale.
Emerging players
- Symrise (Diana Pet Food): Global ingredients supplier including pet food palatants and nutraceutical inputs. Comparable as a supplier of science-backed, premium functional ingredients (including marine-derived) to pet food brands such as those partnering with Aker QRILL.
- BioMar: Global aquaculture feed manufacturer and a key customer segment for QRILL Aqua products. Comparable as a downstream channel for high-performance, sustainable aquaculture feed ingredients and a benchmark for end-market trends.
- Skretting (Nutreco): Major global aquaculture feed manufacturer and direct buyer of marine ingredients including krill meal. Comparable as a downstream aquaculture feed channel that shapes demand and specifications for sustainable marine protein ingredients.
Regional players
- Neptune Wellness Solutions: Canadian-based company focused on krill oil extraction and nutraceutical products. Comparable as a downstream competitor in krill-derived omega-3 and phospholipid supplements, particularly in the North American consumer health market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aker QRILL Company social profiles
Digital presenceAker QRILL Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aker QRILL Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Aker QRILL Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aker QRILL Company 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 Aker QRILL Company
What does Aker QRILL Company do?
Aker QRILL Company harvests Antarctic krill and produces krill-based meal and oil ingredients for use in aquaculture feed (QRILL Aqua), pet food and supplements (QRILL Pet), and nutraceutical raw materials for human health products. The company sells these ingredients globally to feed companies, pet food manufacturers, and aquaculture operations, with customized specifications for fat and protein content based on seasonal variations.
Is Aker QRILL Company a public or private company?
Aker QRILL Company is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Aker QRILL Company founded?
Aker QRILL Company was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Aker QRILL Company based?
Aker QRILL Company is headquartered in Lysaker, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Aker QRILL Company make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. QRILL Aqua Products are the primary driver. The others are QRILL Pet Products and nutraceutical Raw Materials.
Who are Aker QRILL Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pelagia and Rimfrost (GC Rieber). Broad incumbents are Croda International, DSM-Firmenich, Aker BioMarine and Cargill Animal Nutrition. Emerging players are Symrise (Diana Pet Food), BioMar and Skretting (Nutreco). Neptune Wellness Solutions is listed as a regional player.
Does Aker QRILL Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aker QRILL Company.
What industry is Aker QRILL Company in?
Aker QRILL Company's product category is Marine Aquaculture Feed Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAAAC, Crustacean Farming (e.g., shrimp, prawns, crab), with a secondary code of AFAEAAAL, Aquaculture Feed & Nutrition (farm-level feed programs). Its NAICS code is 11251 and its SIC code is 2000.