Wide range of value-added sh products

V95 Kft. of Nagyatád and Bajcshal Kft. of Kisbajcs are owned by two Hungarian families cooperating in sh farming, processing, marketing, and trade.

This close cooperation between the two entities has not always been the case: due to the geographic location (Bajcshal in the north, and V95 in the south of the country), the companies operated independently for a time, but the introduction of new species, increasing market demand for high-value products, and the need to reduce costs brought the two closer to each other.

Modernising the facilities made possible with the support of EU funds

e journey of the two companies began in 2003, when the current owners acquired the land and facilities of Nagyatád from the Balatoni shing company and started pond sh production in a vast 300-hectare area. Within a year, the owners made the strategic decision to enhance their capabilities by integrating processing and marketing activities. is expansion took place in Kisbajcs, Gyor county, where they acquired the former Gyori Elore Fish Farmers Cooperative, inheriting the ongoing production there.

Production continued In Nagyatád, while in Kisbajcs, after careful research and evaluation, a process that spanned three years, strategic new investments were initiated. e majority of these endeavours was made possible through substantial support from the European Union. is support, amounting to 50-60% of the total investment, inspired the team with the con dence to venture into intensive production. e funding also enabled them to modernise and expand their processing facilities.

Adding high-value species to create market advantages

Both companies strategically tailored their production methods, opting for sh species that thrive in high-quality water conditions, even though these species pose greater challenges during production. is deliberate choice signi cantly augmented the value of their output. By focusing on high-value species less commonly cultivated by others, they created a niche market advantage. is approach also enabled an increase in the traditional production of the most commonly produced species like carp, grass carp, bighead carp, breams, and pike, increasing competitiveness in the market.

High-value species include pike-perch, the production of which started in 2010, African catfish which was added to the range in 2013, and sturgeon species such as sterlet, Siberian sturgeon, Russian sturgeon, and beluga. The sturgeon species are utilized for caviar and meat production, as well as for restocking natural water bodies. This strategic diversification allowed the companies to maintain a strong foothold in the market while simultaneously contributing to the conservation and sustainable replenishment of wild aquatic habitats.

Traditionally, V95 Kft specialised in breeding various carp and bream species, pike, and later pike-perch, in polyculture, using extensive methods in the company’s pond facilities, while Bajcshal focused on sturgeons. e growing competition between the traditional and new species, together with growing demand for the latter encouraged Bajcshal to add African cat sh (Clarias gariepinus) to the portfolio. Production grew to the point where increasing it was not possible without reducing the production of valuable sturgeon and so it was decided to move the cat sh production to V95, as the facilities in Nagyatád were better suited to it. e new unit—an intensive closed system that uses thermal water— was launched in 2013 and nalised in 2015. It complies with European standards and 1,000 tonnes of catsh are produced per year—compared to the initially planned 300 tonnes. e production is vertically integrated: V95 has its own broodstock, a hatchery, and 32 ow-through rearing tanks with a total capacity of 1,280 cubic meters, so the sh does not leave Nagyatád until it reaches market size. After harvesting the sh is transported to Kisbajcs for processing. All along its journey from egg to plate the cat sh remains, so to say, in the same hands.

Modern consumer preferences, in large part driven by millennials, dictate that sh be boneless, odour-free, and with a high esh yield compared to the sh’s body mass. In this view, the almost boneless and “clean” tasting African cat sh is perfect—with one “but”. Its head is too big, about 30% of the body length on average. is, on the one hand, reduces its value for the end consumer as well as for the HoReCa sector, and on the other hand, places extra demand on utilising the o al. Recognizing this, V-95 Kft., with the involvement and cooperation of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), began to develop two selected lines using traditional mass selection. In one of the two lines, the goal is to reduce the size of the head of market-sized cat sh, while in the other, it is to increase the circumference of the body while maintaining the same weight.

Adding value to own farmed fish

In Hungary, most freshwater sh is still sold live or on ice. It is available directly from farms, through the shops attached to the farms, or through the retail sector. Adding value to their own farmed sh by processing it was one of the top priorities for Bajcshal from its inception. Now they are one of the country’s leading producers of processed sh with an annual output of between 1,800 and 2,000 tonnes annually. e slaughtering unit is also located at Bajcshal. e range of products based on the sh bred by both Bajcshal and V95 includes, in large part, fresh llets with or without skin, steaks, and gutted sh. Some carp llets are processed into a “boneless” product in the sense that cuts are made halfway through the meat reducing the bones present in the esh to very small pieces and making the product more convenient to eat.

Bajcshal also produces the base for the famous halászlé - Hungarian sherman’s soup. e nation’s signature dish, the soup is consumed mainly at Christmas and during summer vacations. Customers often buy a stock and add pieces of their preferred fresh or frozen sh to it. Customers are also o ered a concentrated sh soup stock which they can dilute 5 to 1. In addition to soups, the company o ers pâtés, sh salads, and smoked sh. e smoked sh products line is currently expanding in the retail sector, with various species, sliced, on a tray, and easy to consume. Moreover, Sturgeon caviar, produced by Bajcshal, has been recognised both domestically and abroad. e companies have now reached the level where 70-80% of the processed sh comes from their own production. Common carp, silver, and bighead carp, grass carp and carnivorous species raised in the Nagyatád unit together with African cat sh have created a solid base that is able to support the processing unit and also ensures the economic security of the Nagyatád unit. e rest of the volumes for the processing operation are sourced from partners in Hungary and sometimes from abroad.

African catfish need to be graded at intervals to ensure that only fish of the same size populate a tank. Otherwise, smaller fish will be subject to aggressive behaviour and cannibalism.

Hungary remains the most important market

Bajcshal, as a leading Hungarian company, enjoys longstanding connections with supermarkets. eir primary sales channels are large stores, but for stability, they also operate their own outlets. e oldest store in Gy r’s Csarnok area has been running successfully for over 30 years. Later the company expanded to Budapest, Székesfehérvár, Siófok, Érd, and Mosonmagyaróvár, aiming to reach a wider audience. ese company-owned stores not only enable the spreading of risk but also receive direct feedback from consumers, allowing the company to adapt based on real-time information. Bajcshal’s caviar, particularly from Siberian and Russian sturgeon, gained recognition, earning stars at prestigious events like the Great Taste Awards in London in 2019 and 2021. Partnerships in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and even Singapore create good opportunities for expanding the company’s international presence. In London, agreements with high-level restaurant suppliers are increasing the market there, including for caviar products.

While the focus has primarily been on Hungary due to the challenges of transporting freshwater sh with limited shelf life, the company is exploring international avenues. ey are considering further exporting caviar and products from sturgeon meat, as well as high-value products like sh soup and smoked sh. Currently, discussions are underway with a Danish company interested in smoked and sliced African cat sh. However, the Hungarian market is still hungry and will remain the most important market for both companies.

Aleksandra Petersen, Euro sh, aleksandra@euro sh.dk

V95 Kft Bajcshal Kft

Halastopuszta 3 7500 Nagyatad Hungary

Tel.: +36 30 625 9302 halaszat@v95.hu www.v95.hu (in Hungarian)

Production manager: Attila Boros Activity: Breeding African cat sh Volume: 1,000 tonnes/year

Arany János út 22. 9062 Kisbajcs Hungary

Tel.: +36 (96) 560 220 bajcshal@bajcshal.hu https://bajcshal.hu/

Managing director: Gábor Szilágyi

Activity: Fish and seafood processing

Products: Fresh sh, ready to cook products, sh stock, caviar, patés, smoked sh, sh salads

Volumes: 1,800–2,000 tonnes per year

Species: Common carp, sturgeons, pike-perch, African cat sh

Markets: Hungary, Europe, Singapore