Whitby Seafoods, a prominent player in the food and beverage industry, is currently under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). This probe relates to a proposed deal involving their subsidiary, Kilkeel Seafoods Limited. The CMA began its investigation on August 8, 2023.
Whitby Seafoods established Kilkeel Seafoods Limited in 2011 after acquiring Rockall Seafoods, a now-defunct Northern Ireland business. Despite Rockall Seafoods no longer operating, Whitby Seafoods continues to run three Northern Irish processing sites in Galloway, Newton Stewart, and Kilkeel.
During the period between the investigation’s initiation and August 22, interested parties have been given the opportunity to provide comments on the proposed deal. A Phase 1 decision deadline of October 4 has been set, which will determine if the investigation proceeds further. The specific legal basis for this investigation is section 96(2a) of the Enterprise Act 2002.
Whitby Seafoods, founded in 1985 and based in Whitby, North Yorkshire, specializes in scampi production. In addition, they offer other products like fish goujons / strips, fishcakes, and calamari. The company is widely recognized as the “Home of scampi” and supplies leading retailers like Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Farmfoods. They also collaborate with popular online grocery service Ocado, producing own brand products. Moreover, Whitby Seafoods caters to the demands of pubs and restaurants nationwide.
Kilhorne Bay, located in Annalong, Northern Ireland, focuses on fishing, processing, and distributing fish. Their client base primarily consists of catering, wholesale, and retail businesses.
It is worth noting that Whitby Seafoods recently announced the potential loss of 40 jobs due to declining sales and escalating costs.
In unrelated news, Nomad Foods has recently conducted research demonstrating that raising freezer temperatures, deviating from the industry standard, does not compromise food safety.
In conclusion, the investigation into Whitby Seafoods regarding their subsidiary’s proposed deal is currently underway. Whitby Seafoods’ strong position as the “Home of scampi” in the food and beverage industry, along with their collaboration with notable retailers and online grocery platforms, makes this investigation a matter of significant interest.
