Fish company to make statement – Fishupdate.com
Fish company to make statement Published: 26 January, 2007
Ian Botham opened the factory, following its refurbishment
A KEY Grimsby fish processor is reported to be preparing a statement over its future, giving rise to fears about further job losses in the Humber seafood trade.
The company is Seabay Quickfish. They employ just over 100 people and have a combined turnover approaching £30-million.
The Norwegian owned factory on the North Wall of Grimsby Fish Docks is a major producer for the export market and for French supermarkets in particular. The company is expected to issue a statement either later today or early next week.
Seabay is a private trading company which has been established in the port for more than 20 years. It describes itself as an innovative processor of frozen fish products for both the retail and food service markets throughout Europe.
The factory went through a multi-million pound refurbishment over a decade ago, which was opened by England cricketing legend Ian Botham.
Seabay is part of the larger Norway Sjovik Group which operates an international fishing fleet and enterprise on the country’s West Coast. geographically, it puts the company at the heart of Norway’s main fishing region. Seabay and Quickfish merged their interests over a year ago.
The Grimsby operation produces breaded and battered fish portion along with other seafood products. It has comprehensive selection of fish and shellfish including IQF plain fillets, scampi and prawn products.
The Humber seafood industry has been hit by a series of job cutbacks in recent weeks with the closure of the Birds Eye factory in Hull where 650 people are employed. And this week Young’s Bluecrest announced it was closing its factory in Gillett Street, Hull with the loss of some 200 jobs. The operation will be moved to Grimsby, creating 135 jobs on the South Bank.
Because of rising fish prices and soaring energy costs, seafood companies are coming under increasing pressure to reduce overheads and increase efficiency – and labour cutbacks are the first target.
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