September 6, 2012

Morrisons has commenced operations for a new seafood processing facility in Grimsby, UK.

The move will allow the company to supply fresh and frozen seafood more quickly to its stores.

The construction of the plant is a part of Morrisons' strategy to manufacture more of the fresh food that is sold at its stores.

The new plant portions and fillets a range of seafood including salmon, haddock, cod, smoked cod, smoked haddock, cold water prawns, mussels, and surimi.

Seafood will be supplied daily at the facility for processing and same-day distribution to Morrisons' stores. The plant is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2012, following which, it will produce 200 tonnes of seafood a week, and boost its workforce from the current 90 to 200.

The move to open the plant comes five months after Morrisons announced that it will be acquiring an empty factory in Europa Business Park factory, Grimsby. The factory was previously owned by Oriental ready meal producer Kwoks, which closed the facility in September 2009, leading to a loss of 180 jobs.

Morrisons, headquartered in West Yorkshire, England, is a leading supermarket chain in the UK with 455 stores across the country.