Industry Seafood Processing Headquarters Whitby, United Kingdom | Number of employees approx 300 Founded 1984 | |
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Website www.whitby-seafoods.com Subsidiaries W Middleton & Son (N I) Ltd, Kilkeel Seafoods Ltd, Galloway Seafoods Limited Profiles | ||
Whitby Seafoods Ltd is an independent, family owned and managed business based in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England specialising in frozen seafood products coated in batter and breadcrumbs.
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History
Whitby Seafoods was founded in 1985 when owner, Graham Whittle bought the then defunct Whitby Shellfish Company (trading name of Nipmark Ltd) and set out to transform the British breaded scampi industry moving premises to a 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2) factory on the outskirts of Whitby.
Graham retired as Managing Director in October 2015 and was succeeded in the role by his son, Daniel, who alongside his sister, Laura Whittle (Sales and Marketing Director), and brother, Edward Whittle (Business Development Director) now lead the business
Acquisitions
Whitby Seafoods acquired Middleton Seafood’s (2007) and Rockall (2011) in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, consolidating these into Kilkeel Seafoods and in 2014, Galloway Seafoods, (Newton Stewart, Scotland) from ScoFro .
Activities
As the largest manufacturer of scampi in Britain, Whitby Seafoods processes 7635 tonnes of scampi per annum with a current sales of £41 million. Historically business to business concern, Whitby Seafoods has in recent years launched and grown its retail presence with listings in all major retail chains in Britain with production now split 60/40 between foodservice and retail. In 2014 Whitby Seafoods underwent a major rebranding with Perry Hayd Taylor from Big Fish, introducing Graham The Gull as mascot and the tag line ‘Bloomin Special Seafood’. New packaging emphasises a seaside feel with Beach Huts at centre stage.
Local area
A town with a rich seafaring heritage, Whitby’s economy is based predominantly on the tourism and fishing trade, and located at the mouth of the River Esk. Whitby, with the town taking great pride in being the birthplace of Dracula, Bram Stoker conceiving the character during a visit to Whitby in 1890, and being inspired by the imposing remains of the ruin of Whitby Abbey.