Norilia 25 Years: Creating Added Value from Food Industry By-products

The mandate was clear: create the highest possible value from by-products of Norwegian food production. After 25 years, Norilia has become an international success, supplying goods to the world’s largest luxury markets.

Autumn 2025, Norilia celebrates 25 years as a commercial powerhouse in the trade of by-products from Norwegian food production. The company specializes in refining and processing surplus materials from slaughterhouses and egg facilities, generating annual revenues of over half a billion Norwegian kroner. Over 25 years, Norilia has more than doubled its turnover through continuous optimization of resource utilization.

“Norilia is owned by Norwegian farmers and operates with a single mandate: to create the highest possible value from raw materials sourced from Norwegian livestock. Norwegian agriculture is associated with quality and is known for healthy animals and high welfare standards. This enables us to deliver products to the most discerning markets in the world. Norilia has built a loyal and strong customer base abroad over several decades," says Roar Furuhaug, CEO of Norilia.

Over 70% of Norilia’s turnover comes from exports, with the luxury goods market in Europe as its most important customer. The company’s main market is the exclusive Italian leather industry, the world’s largest, supplying luxury brands in Paris and Milan with leather for bags, shoes, and belts.

"We are extremely proud to have established unique agreements and strong customer relationships with several of the world’s most exclusive brands. These contracts require discretion, but for us, it is just as important that our raw materials reflect a sustainable and uniquely Norwegian value chain with high-quality agriculture. It shows the unique work our owners, the Norwegian farmers, do every single day," says Furuhaug.

Norilia’s work begins where Norwegian food production ends, acting as a link between the land-based food industry and international markets for raw materials.

Their largest markets are in Europe and Asia, but they are increasingly exploring African and American markets. One of their most important new initiatives is biotechnology, research, and development.

The global need for protein is expected to increase, and animal proteins have long been sought after in countries outside Norway. The Bioco facility in Østfold is unique in having developed technology and expertise to extract pure, concentrated protein from chicken and turkey by-products.

Biomass from animal remains contains valuable nutrients that, when properly processed, can have significant benefits for both animals and humans. Norilia uses biotechnological processes to extract proteins, peptides, amino acids, minerals, and wound-healing materials. The company is the only player in Norway to have invested in a facility for extracting protein from Norwegian agricultural production. The Bioco facility is a collaboration between Felleskjøpet Agri and Norilia.

Norilia’s origins date back to the 1930s, when the first efforts to organize the collection of hides and skins began. In 2000, this work was formalized with the establishment of Norilia, which today has several local facilities for storing and processing various raw materials.

"Our strategy is fundamentally about creating the highest possible value from what we call plus products: what is left over and can add a plus to the farmer’s wallet," concludes Furuhaug.

Sustainable resource utilization is important for Nortura, emphasizes Nortura’s CEO, Anne Marit Panengstuen:

"Nortura’s purpose is to market our members’ livestock production in the best possible way. With respect for the animals and the farmer’s work, we take responsibility for utilizing the whole animal and creating value throughout the value chain. For 25 years, Norilia has been a key player in this work, with sustainable resource utilization and profitability for Norwegian farmers. We are proud of that," says Panengstuen.