UK retailer Morrisons has announced that it has acquired Cornwall-based seafood supplier, Falfish.
The deal will see the retailer source more than 80% of its fish and shellfish, offered both in its 497 stores as well as online, from its wholly-owned seafood operations.
Falfish has been supplying sustainably sourced, high-quality fresh fish and shellfish to Morrisons for over 16 years.
The seafood supplier generated almost 50% of its £40 million turnover from business with Morrisons.
It also supplies seafood to the UK restaurant trade and exports to Europe and the Far East.
The acquisition will allow Morrisons to improve the range, quality, and availability of fresh fish and shellfish at its 'Market Street' counters in stores.
The deal also represents another significant investment in fresh food and food making, the retailer added.
'A Great Fit'
Morrisons manufacturing director, Andrew Thornber, said, "Falfish is a great fit with Morrisons; not only is it a great British company supplying high-quality fish and shellfish, but they also share our passion for sustainability and local sourcing.
"Bringing Falfish into Morrisons further strengthens our position as Britain's biggest food maker. Our manufacturing operations employ circa 9,000 people at 19 sites throughout Britain, providing around 25% of everything that Morrisons sells."
Falfish, owned by the founder Ian Greet and his son Mark Greet, operates from two sites in Redruth and Falmouth docks on the south Cornish coast.
It processes a range of 56 wild and farmed frozen and fresh seafood from British waters and the South West coastline.
'New Opportunities'
Commenting on the deal, Mark Greet stated, "For my father Ian and our family, as part of the Cornish community, this acquisition ensures the continuing ethos of Falfish in upholding our relationships and values, and strengthens this for our colleagues, for the South West fishing fleet, and all of our customers and stakeholders.
"The acquisition is great news for Falfish's Cornish operations and the wider community, bringing investment and access to many new opportunities."
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
