UK restaurant chain and seafood business Rockfish has partnered with motorway services company Westmorland Family to launch a virtual fishmonger and seafood counter at Gloucester Services, with the collaboration seeking offer people a new way of buying fresh, sustainable fish.
The new concept allows customers to choose fish and seafood from a digital, on-screen fish counter linked to the Rockfish Online Seafood Market. Customers ordering before 1300 Monday-Thursday or before 1200 Friday, will receive their products through next day delivery.
“Our aim is to share a sustainable way of enjoying world class seafood. Historically, there’s a lot of waste in the industry and challenges around fresh delivery. Our zero-waste supply chain and digital market shares the very best of that day’s catch that will be delivered to your doorstep wherever you are cooking,” Rockfish Founder and CEO Mitch Tonks said.
Rockfish is based directly on the quayside in Brixham, where the company selects the best of the day’s catch from the local fleet and its own boat Rockfisher. The fish is prepared, portioned and packed at source, ensuring maximum freshness. The seafood is uploaded to the digital market throughout the day and once ordered, is sent out for delivery, arriving at customer’s doorstep the very next day.
Westmorland Family Chair Sarah Dunning said the company, which runs franchise-free motorway service areas at Tebay, Gloucester and Cairn Lodge, wanted to find a more sustainable way of retailing fish that suited a motorway services with a focus on proper food.
“We have such a wealth of British seafood to enjoy, but we want people to enjoy it at the peak of quality and freshness. The Rockfish partnership offers the opportunity and inspiration to order and enjoy fresh seafood delivered to their end destination,” she said.
The Rockfish counter will also offer a selection of frozen fresh fish, from Dover sole, turbot, lemon sole and hake – all blast frozen on the quayside as soon as it lands to ensure maximum freshness. Rockfish’s line of tinned seafood, as well as smoked fish, selected wines, seafood cookbooks, Rockfish’s house-made sauces and butters along with fresh herbs and spices will also be available to purchase.
