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UAE-based supplier Fresh Express is aiming to develop and strengthen its position in the regional market, and will soon be processing seafood products in Dubai in-house in a home-made artisan fashion. Fresh Express commercial director Ali Serhal says the firm will supply its customers “with a wide range of interesting products, which we are confident will bring a big smile to all the chefs in UAE”.

He adds: “We are focusing first on elevating the quality and consistency standards, and at the same time bringing down the overall food cost of any kitchen. We are currently in the pre-launch stage, with final touches being made by our production team before we officially introduce this line at the end of the year.”

The firm has also looked at new sources of seafood from around the world, including South America, Africa and even both the North and South Poles. Serhal says: “Though the logistic aspect is challenging, we are very excited to see these high quality and interesting products on the menus of UAE restaurants in the very near future.”

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Associated Seafoods Ltd has recently completed its multi-million pound upgrade and modernisation programme of its seafood processing facility in Buckie, north-east Scotland.

The firm’s commercial director, Henry Angus, tells Caterer: “Under the modernisation programme, we have created a dedicated langoustine (nephrops norvegicus) processing area and another state-of-the-art processing sections devoted to crab (cancer pagurus) and scallops (pecten maximus).

“This shellfish side to the business provides a neat complement to our Scottish smoked salmon operation, which also has a dedicated processing area within the same production facility. Major features of this facility include traditional kilns, a dedicated hot smoking area, and the facility to produce an exciting new range of Scottish smoked salmon and cured products.”

Angus says the advantage of processing shellfish and Scottish smoked salmon in the same facility is that because international customers now combine orders of different types of seafood, it provides efficiencies in export costs and broadens product portfolios.

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