Ikamar: the Seville-based giant conquers international markets and sets its sights on the US

The fishing grounds of Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania They are the source of the products that have boosted the international prestige of Ikamar FishWhat began as a family business, under the direction of the brothers' father LalindeIt has transformed into a giant in the distribution of fish and seafood. "We have experienced very moderate growth, because our goal is to move forward steadily," explains Luis Lalinde, the company's CEO.

Ikamar's growth is remarkable. In 2010, its turnover reached six million euros. By 2024, this figure had soared to 71 million, a 37% increase over the previous year. This growth is largely due to the opening of new international marketswithout neglecting the domestic market. "Historically, this has been an importing company, because the origins are the catches from the fishing vessels, although for the last 15 years the export role has also been very important," Lalinde emphasizes. In fact, exports, which represented only 3% of its turnover in 2010, exceeded 38% last year.

The merger 15 years ago with Gelandalus marked a turning point in Ikamar's history. The company currently imports products from Senegal, where it markets 18 vessels, and also has operations in Morocco and Mauritania. As for export, its scope extends to 12 countries, including Italy, Japan, Portugal, Greece, Denmark, Romania, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia and Germany.

"We have other markets in sight, including United States"We participated in a marketing campaign there in November, although their flagship product is octopus, and the catches aren't great right now," Lalinde points out. Among Ikamar's best-selling products are octopus, squid, and prawns, which are sold to a wide range of customers, from processors to supermarkets and distributors.

Ikamar's medium-term plans focus on consolidating the achievements of 2024, especially in the area of exports. "We want to strengthen and consolidate new markets, such as..." Croatia, Germany and Romania, while we continue to keep an eye on United States“Although we are waiting to see what happens, both regarding the product [the octopus shortage] and the tariff issue,” Lalinde adds. Given the uncertainty in the US market, the company is considering “focusing on other countries.” “We already work extensively with Japan, but we have other countries in mind where we could expand,” he reveals.