About Pronofa ASA
Pronofa was established in January 2021, and was spun out of the cornerstone company Denofa which has produced food and feed ingredients in Fredrikstad since 1912.
The industrial expertise of Denofa was crucial for the establishment of the new company, combined with fundraising from the capital market.
Since then, Pronofa has added its own expertise and experience through the acquisition of several smaller companies and new hires.
Consequently, we have acquired more than 15 years of experience in low-trophic aquaculture (Ciona cultivation).
Pronofa is different from other start-up companies because we have the backing of Denofa and their industrial competence, in addition to strong investors. It has given us the opportunity to invest in the production of new, local, and sustainable raw materials on a large scale.
Locations
PRONOFA ASA (NO)
- Headquarters in Fredrikstad
- R&D division
PRONOFA AB (SE)
- Production facility for Ciona (tunicates) in Stenungsund
- Several aquaculture licenses in the area
PRONOFA MØRE AS (NO)
- Production facility for Ciona (tunicates) in Hustadvika – completed 2025
- Several aquaculture licenses in the area
Business Areas
Pronofa ASA is the first in the world to use tunicates for large-scale food production. We utilize the local Ciona species, which grows naturally along the coasts of Norway and Sweden. From the raw material Ciona, we produce the ingredient Purply.
Purply has qualities similar to traditional ground meat and can be used either as an alternative or a complement in dishes that typically contain ground meat. For example, it can be used in popular dishes such as tacos, lasagna, stews, and meatballs.
Purply has a climate footprint of only 0.2 kg CO₂eq/kg – less than 1 percent of red meat.
Denofa AS, Godthåb Holding AS, Convexa Asymmetric AS, Reitan Kapital AS og Silvercoin Industries owns more than 75% of Pronofa ASA (2025).
The remaining shares are primarily divided between various investment companies, in addition to former owners of companies that have been acquired and incorporated by Pronofa.
Board Members
BJØRGE GRETLAND
Chairman
- Broad experience from venture capital, mergers & acquisitions and capital markets.
- Food tech, sustainable tech investments, active ownership, global expansion, partnerships.
- Holds a Master of Economics and a PhD in strategy and finance.
ANDREAS AKSELSEN
Board Member
- Board Member of Godthåb Holding AS, BEWI ASA, Pridok AS.
- Experience from various positions in Jackon Holding from 2004.
- M.Sc in Business Administration from BI and a B.Sc in mechanical engineering.
ANNE-CHARLOTTE HOLMLÖV
Board Member
- CEO Consupedia.
- Education from London Business
School and Uppsala University. - Extensive experience from companies
including Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis,
Nestlé and start-ups.
HILDE C. TALSETH
Board Member
- CEO Norsk Kylling AS.
- MBA Strategy & Management, Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).
- Extensive leadership experience and board memberships.
TERJE ANDERSEN
Board Member
- Board Member of Borregaard ASA, Head of Audit and Sustainability committee.
- Previous CFO of Orkla and CEO of Orkla Investments
Board Member of Borregaard ASA, Head of Audit and Sustainability committee. - MBA (“Siviløkonom”), Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).
HEGE RIVEDAL ØDEGAARD
Board Member
- Director Quality & Sustainability Denofa.
- Biochemical laboratory Scientist.
- MSc Food Scientist.
HANS MARTIN KJERNSBÆK
Board Member
- CFO Denofa AS.
- Msc. Business Administration.
- Master of Professional Accountancy.
- Extensive experience from audit, transactions and advisory in public interest companies.
