Latvian engineering company Peruza, has begun to break into the western European market with processing lines and equipment such as conveyors for tunnel freezers and canning lines. Information from the Latvian fisheries’ ministry shows Peruza was formally established in 1991 (after Latvia regained independence from Soviet rule). Past links means it has had good sales in what were the former Soviet Republics in the Baltic as well as Poland and Uruguay and, of course, Russia. Now its lower-cost equipment, which meets EU standards, is boosting sales across what were Cold War borders.
Chairman Arnis Petranis said sales have included lines for companies in Sweden such as Polarica, Alviks Chark and Ab Seac. Recommendations from
this work led to a contract with
Boulogne-sur-Mer’s Delpierre for a pilchard packing line which is about to be installed, he said from Riga.
Peruza also won the EU-funded contract to handle the technical side of the
refurb at the fish cannery in Liepaja on the Latvian coast.
Peruza says its 40 staff also produce processing and handling gear for the food and pharmaceutical industries. They are pleased that turnover has tripled in the last three years. It has 50 per cent of the Latvian general market and 70 per cent of the Latvian fish industry market.
