Sardines
Graal
Graal, founded in 1989 by Bogusław Kowalski and based in Wejherowo, Poland, grew into one of Central Europe's largest canned-fish producers before being acquired by Germany's Lisner Group in late 2024; its own ingredient label confirms that its 'sardynki' (sardines) product is actually made from Atlantic herring, not true sardine.
At a glance
| Country | Poland |
|---|---|
| Region | Pomerania |
| City | Wejherowo |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Company | Fish-processing group (multiple brands, four production facilities) |
| Owner | Acquired by Germany's Lisner Group at the end of November 2024 (previously founder-owned by Bogusław Kowalski) |
Notable facts
- Founded in 1989 by Bogusław Kowalski, a former locksmith; began as a food-trading business, launched its own brand in 1997, and entered fish canning in 2004 by acquiring cannery Polinord for 20 million PLN.
- Expanded through roughly eight acquisitions between 2004 and 2007, reaching about 435.8 million PLN in revenue by mid-2015 across 11 brands and four production facilities.
- Acquired by German group Lisner at the end of November 2024.
- Ingredient label for Graal's 'Sardynki w sosie pomidorowym' (Sardines in Tomato Sauce, 110g) lists the fish as 65% Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus — confirmed directly from the product page on graal.pl, not true sardine (Sardina pilchardus).
Origin
Graal was founded in 1989 in Wejherowo, on Poland's Baltic coast, by Bogusław Kowalski, a former locksmith who started out trading food before launching his own brand in 1997 and moving into fish canning in 2004 with the acquisition of cannery Polinord. A string of roughly eight further acquisitions through 2007 built Graal into one of Central Europe's largest fish processors, running eleven brands and four production facilities by the mid-2010s.
In late November 2024, German group Lisner acquired Graal, ending Kowalski's run as an independent owner. On the honesty front that matters most for this directory: Graal's own ingredient label for its "sardynki" (sardines) in tomato sauce lists the fish as 65% Atlantic herring, not sardine — a labeling gap worth knowing about before buying.
Products
Sardynki w sosie pomidorowym (Sardines in Tomato Sauce)
Ingredient label lists the fish as 65% Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) — not true sardine, despite the 'sardynki' name.
Where to buySardynki w oleju roślinnym (Sardines in Vegetable Oil)
Same 'Sardynki' product line as the tomato-sauce version; species not separately re-confirmed for this exact SKU, but presumed the same Atlantic herring basis.
Where to buy