Seafood cluster secures new customers with supplier deal

Seafood from West Wales is being served in East Wales thanks to a recent partnership between two food businesses.

Working together, Torfaen restaurant wholesaler, Vin Sullivan Foods Ltd, and Pembrokeshire seafood business Cardigan Bay Fish have succeeded in boosting their businesses by generating a host of new customers.

With support from the Wales Seafood Cluster, the two enterprises are now delivering seafood to customers across South East Wales.

The Wales Seafood Cluster is a Cywain-led project which encourages and facilitates collaborative working among businesses and individuals in the seafood sector.

Owen Haines, Seafood Cluster Manager (South Wales) said, “Collaboration is at the heart of the Seafood Cluster, and we hope more fishing and seafood enterprises will join together to build new, sustainable markets for their produce.

“I’m delighted that by working together Vin Sullivan and Cardigan Bay Fish have been able to tap into a new customer base that is eager to buy Welsh seafood.

“Coming together to create new selling opportunities is obviously good for the profile of Welsh Seafood and those whose livelihoods depend on a ready market for their catch.

“The past six months have been particularly difficult and challenging for the fishing industry, and as a Cluster, we have been working closely with many businesses to find ways to mitigate the market affects created by Covid-19.”

Part of the work to promote Welsh Seafood includes the creation of magnetic ‘Welsh Seafood and More to your Door’ signage that may be attached to delivery vehicles.

The eye-catching design highlights the #WelshSeafood and #SupportLocalSupportWales messages promoted by Cywain, as well as the ‘Port to Plate’ project – launched by Menter a Busnes in February – to carve out a distinct identity for seafood products from Wales.

Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said, “Working together Vin Sullivan Foods and Cardigan Bay Fish have successfully generated new markets for both businesses.

“Over the last few months we have seen people increasingly buy local, with innovative and collaborative ventures of this kind creating more opportunities for the public to buy and enjoy a range of fantastic, fresh Welsh produce. This not only boosts local economies but also supports our ambition for a greener Wales with shorter supply chains and healthier seas. I hope more people across Wales will seek out and support them as well as our other top class Welsh food businesses.”