Doncaster merchant keeps fish and chip shops in business with £1.5m support

A South Yorkshire fish merchant is meeting growing demand from fish and chip shops across the North thanks to a new £1.5m funding package.

Warners Fish Merchants, which is based in Doncaster, has secured funding from Lloyds Bank as part of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

Founded in 1941, the family run-firm supplies fish and chip shops, restaurants and catering businesses across the region. Gary Warner, grandson of founder Albert Warner, owns and operates the business.

Following the easing of lockdown measures, Warners Fish Merchants is experiencing increasing demand as its customers are beginning to reopen with social distancing measures in place following lockdown.

Gary explained: “We’ve worked hand in hand with the fish and chip industry for more than 60 years now and have been blown away by the resilience and determination of our customers during such an unprecedented time.

“We take our position in the supply chains of many small, independent businesses very seriously. It was incredibly rewarding to continue supplying shops that made the decision to stay open during lockdown safely.

“Now we need to move quickly to get stock out to customers that are back in business and eager to take advantage of customer demand. The support from Lloyds Bank has given us the financial firepower we need to do this and continue supporting local economies across the North.”

Mark Butterworth, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, added: “Warner Fish Merchants is a lynchpin of Yorkshire and the rest of the North of England’s catering industry.

“The loan we’ve provided will help Gary and the team continue to support its customers and the communities they serve as the restrictions on businesses enter a new phase.”