Good cod! Collins celebrates double awards win

A North East seafood business is celebrating after its founder and operations director both landed prestigious business awards.

County Durham-based Collins Seafoods, one of the country’s largest suppliers of sustainably caught Frozen at Sea Fish, has netted two top regional titles.

Managing director Richard Collins won the Star Radio Lifetime Award in acknowledgement of his achievements both individually and through the business he founded in 1980.

Reflecting on the award, Richard said: “The award is really a testament to our team which continues to drive Collins forward, while staying true to our commitment to sustainable practices.”

Meanwhile, Richard’s daughter and operations director Claire Carter is also celebrating after the Women into the Network (WIN) Awards named her ‘One to Watch’ – a new award which was created just for her after being selected as runner up in the Key Woman award category.

She said: “It’s a great honour to receive this accolade. It was fantastic just to be nominated for the award, so to win was such a wonderful surprise, and to think the award was created just for me is overwhelming.

“I am also immensely proud of my father having started up Collins from scratch into such a successful business. It is his hard work, positive attitude and determination that have made him such a success within the industry and I’m delighted that he has also been recognised for all that he has achieved.”

WIN chair Nickie Gott added: “We felt Claire’s passion, dedication and commitment to the company goes above and beyond that of a member of the management team.

“The judges have never made such an award in the past but on reading her application were very touched by some of the statements and also the passion demonstrated when she met with the judges.”

Collins Seafoods employs 17 people at its headquarters in Newton Aycliffe and a further 11 at its Yorkshire base in Leeds.

The company is MSC accredited meaning it practices and promotes the fishing of certified sustainable species and will only supply fish that is fully traceable back to its sustainable fishery.

Collins is also a supplier of Frozen At Sea Fish – a method which ensures products are as fresh as possible for customers. It is also a sponsor and judge of the Good Catch Award at the National Fish & Chip Awards 2014.