UK supermarket, Morrisons, has commenced operations at its new fish processing plant in Grimsby.
The news comes just five months after work began to convert the disused factory at Europa Park – by the time it is fully operational at the end of the year, it is expected to employ 200 staff and produce around 200 tonnes of fish per week.
Morrisons says this will make it the only major food retailer to source fish direct from the quayside and process it for sale across the country.
The strategy is for the supermarket to manufacture more of the fresh food that is sold in its stores – meaning fresher fish at an affordable price.
Seafood being processed at the new plant will include salmon, cod, haddock, smoked varieties, cold water prawns and mussels. There will be filleting, portioning and freezing facilities.
Dalton Philips, chief executive, Morrisons, said: “This will deliver mouth-wateringly fresh fish into our stores. Nobody else is buying direct from the quayside but we’re doing it. Building this seafood business will allow us to move our fish from ‘catch to kitchen’ even more quickly, giving our customers fantastic quality seafood products at stunning prices.”
Morrisons has recruited industry experts to lead the business such as Frank Green, who has been appointed head of seafood trading for Morrisons and was previously at Young’s.
The supermarket will also be appointing a fisheries and aquaculture specialist to further develop credentials in sourcing and sustainability.
