Hull seafood firm to expand US exports with Santander six-figure funding deal

Fillet Fish Ltd, the Hull-based seafood processing firm, is to expand further into the US after securing new funding from Santander Corporate & Commercial.

With clients already established in New York, San Diego and Miami, the 35-staff firm is now looking to increase its footprint in the world’s biggest food import market.

Run by husband and wife team, Stephen and Colleen Walker, Fillet Fish specialises in processing and distributing UK catch such as salmon, cod, haddock, smoked fish, and seasonal specials such as plaice, halibut, pollock and monkfish.

The business’ core product is sourcing fresh salmon and other pelagic fish, and selling to London’s Billingsgate market, domestic UK customers or export suppliers.

Much of its produce is sourced in Scotland, chilled on the way to Hull and then exported via Manchester. The produce is usually in the US within 48-72 hours of being caught.

Over the past two years, the firm expanded into supplying end users directly rather than being just part of the food manufacturing process.

The six-figure funding from Santander Corporate & Commercial will be used to grow further into the US market over the next two years.

Colleen Walker, director of Fillet Fish Ltd, said: “We have a premium, healthy product and are growing rapidly – both in the UK and the US. We are committed to providing ethically sourced fish and all our products are sustainably sourced.

“We are looking to reach out to new domestic and international markets. Santander has offered us infrastructures and contacts into those key markets and support for our future expansion.”

Barry Haslam, relationship director at Santander Corporate & Commercial, added: “It is always great when local Humber-based firms such as Fillet Fish do really well and compete on the international stage.

“It’s a fantastic and unique service that fresh UK fish can be landed and then a few days later appear in a top restaurant thousands of miles away, and we’re delighted to be able to support the firm as they expand internationally.”