Morrisons acquires Cornish seafood business Falfish

UK-based food retailer Morrisons has acquired Cornish seafood business Falfish for an undisclosed sum.

Based in Cornwall, Falfish is a family-owned wholesaler of sustainably sourced seafood and has been supplying fresh fish and shellfish to Morrisons for more than a decade.

Nearly 50% of its £40m turnover is with the food retailer.

It operates from its two sites in Redruth and Falmouth docks on the south Cornish coast.

Falfish processes a range of wild and farmed seafood, which is sourced from British waters and the South West coastline.

Its fish range includes turbot, sea bass, monkfish, Dover sole, and hake while its shellfish range includes lobster, king scallops, crab, cuttlefish and whelks.

Falfish managing director Mark Greet said: “Falfish has been a supplier to Morrisons since 2004 and over the years, this has become a very strong partnership.

“For my father Ian and our family, as part of the Cornish community, this acquisition ensures the continuing ethos of Falfish in upholding our relationships and values, and strengthens this for our colleagues, for the South West fishing fleet, and for all of our customers and stakeholders.

“The acquisition is great news for Falfish’s Cornish operations and the wider community, bringing investment and access to many new opportunities.”

Mark Greet will join Morrisons as part of the deal, along with 140 employees.

In addition to Morrisons, Falfish supplies its seafood products to the UK restaurant trade and exports them to Europe and the Far East.

Morrisons manufacturing director Andrew Thornber said: “Falfish is a great fit with Morrisons; not only is it a great British company supplying high-quality fish and shellfish, but they also share our passion for sustainability and local sourcing.

“Bringing Falfish into Morrisons further strengthens our position as Britain’s biggest foodmaker. Our manufacturing operations employ c. 9,000 people at 19 sites throughout Britain, providing around 25% of everything that Morrisons sells.

“The acquisition of Falfish means that over 80% of our fish and shellfish will now come from our own operations.”

In February 2018, Morrisons acquired Yorkshire’s free-range egg supplier Chippindale Foods for an undisclosed price.