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A GRIMSBY fish merchant has just completed a £100,000 plus investment in his business to create what is virtually a modern new fish factory inside an old shell.
Simon Goodwin of Goodwins of Grimsby Ltd has been a familiar figure on the docks for more than 30 years, but he only set up his own company in 1999.
It has been and outstanding success with turnover increasing many times to around £3-million a year today.He trades mainly at the high end of the market, supplying salmon, halibut and other prime fish to the wholesale sector.
In 2008 Simon acquired his current premises which was in need of major renovation. He immediately set about a complete modernisation programme which has included an extension and the installation of a number of ice making machines which supply to other fish merchants in Grimsby.
In fact his ice could soon be in use more than 200 miles away. Simon is currently negotiating a deal to supply ice to a small shipping company on the South Coast near Brighton.
He said: "It has been a worthwhile investment because I sell around 60 tons of ice a month. The factory has been virtually rebuilt from new."
Simon said he is delighted with the way the business has developed. The only cloud on the horizon was the high price fish at present, particularly salmon which has almost doubled in price since the end of last year and currently shows no sign of slowing up.
The Chilean salmon industry, which supplied much of the North American market, was devastated by disease last year and suffered a further blow following the January earthquake. American buyers are now looking to Europe for supplies, notably Norway and Scotland, and this is forcing prices through the roof at present.
Grimsby FMA chief executive Steve Norton told Fishupdate that Simon should be congratulated for showing such enterprise and foresight in a difficult economic climate. "Simon is passionate about our industry and this is an expression of faith in Grimsby and in fish," he added.
Should fisheries be closed during breeding time to allow stocks to reach more sustainable levels?
