October 19, 2007

 

Cumbrian Seafood's US$18 million factory now in operation

 

 

The factory of Cumbrian Seafoods, located on the East Coast in Seaham, County Durham, is now open for business.

 

The plant, which will eventually employ up to 300 people, is part of a GBP 10 million (US$20.5 million)  expansion programme by UK's leading independent seafood company

 

The new production site at Seaham would take up 90 percent of the fund and would supply its shellfish and coated (crumbed and breaded) product divisions.

 

The remainder would be spent on upgrading facilities near its home base at Maryport, Cumbria for the fish-in-sauces ranges, another fast-growing value-added market.

 

Peter Vassallo, owner of Cumbrian Seafoods, said the seafood market is competitive and fast-moving, which is why Cumbrian needs to expand in key areas to maintain its position.

 

The company looked at 19 sites before choosing Seaham for its geographical location, proximity to the depots of two leading customers, and the availability of labour, said Vassallo.

 

The project began towards the end of 2006 and production has commenced with the shellfish operation, with coated products being transferred later this year.

 

Seaham is increasing line speeds by three fold on current systems, and will be introducing the latest equipment to provide Quality Assurance checks, using X-ray machines and intelligent imaging equipment, he added.

 

A special team was appointed to the project specifically to minimise the carbon footprint of the new factory.

 

Peter Vassallo was instrumental in developing a sustainable sourcing policy for cod fillets 25 years ago. Seaham now has a director responsible for implementing sustainability policy.

 

The 10-year-old company was listed by the Sunday Times earlier this year as one of the UK companies with the fastest growing profits.

 

The company provides fresh fish and seafood products to supermarket giants Tesco and Morrisons. To secure fish supplies, Vasallo has bought up fisheries locally and invested in Icelandic cod and haddock fishery enterprises.