Neogen anticipates aquaculture business increase after acquisition

Neogen announced it has acquired the seafood testing facilities of VeroMara in Scotland as part of its strategy to extend its food safety operations.

The US-based company, whose European headquarters are based in Scotland, said it had bought the lab from GlycoMar Ltd but declined to disclose financial details.

Based in Oban, VeroMara offers testing services to the aquaculture industries for shellfish toxins, general foodborne pathogens, including E. coli, noroviruses, and salmon husbandry.

The company posted revenues of approximately US$800,000 (€557,000) in the most recent financial year.

"The acquisition of VeroMara deepens Neogen's advancement into the aquatic sciences," said James Herbert, Neogen's CEO and chairman. "VeroMara's services are complementary and a nice fit with our existing product lines for the seafood industry, including one of our biggest food safety diagnostic products — our histamine tests for the tuna industry.”

He added the takeover would help the company form partnerships “with influential aquaculture partners, and increased access to important international markets”.