What Seafish UK does

Seafish UK Ltd is a privately-held, family-owned frozen seafood manufacturer headquartered in a single 85,000+ square foot processing facility at 45 Wassand Street, Hull, East Yorkshire. Founded in 1922 in the Shetland Isles, the company relocated to Hull in the early 1980s and was acquired by Bob Carter in 2003 before being renamed Seafish UK Ltd in 2004; second-generation family members Emma Acklam, Andrew Carter and Robert Carter now form the Board of Directors. The business manufactures coated, battered, breaded and dusted fish products, ready meals, fishcakes, goujons, toppers, portions and protein bakes across five sub-brands: A Different Catch (new protein-bake range launched 2026), Sheltie (mid-tier staples, est. 1960s), Ocean Bistro (premium), Nanna Carter's (comfort food) and Last Catch (end-of-line). Production runs across three dedicated lines capable of producing up to 3 tonnes of packed product per hour, supported by a 600-pallet on-site cold store with mobile racking.

Core technology centres on physical seafood processing (coating, frying, freezing and packing) plus the in-house Fishspoke Solutions development team that delivers bespoke product co-development and sauce manufacturing for retail and foodservice customers. Quality and compliance infrastructure is anchored on BRCGS AA+ certification (the highest available grade, awarded March 2026) maintained continuously since 2002, alongside ASC, MSC and SEDEX credentials for sustainable sourcing and ethical supply chain traceability.

The business model is B2B contract and own-brand manufacturing sold direct to enterprise customers across five segments — retail (e.g., Lidl, Heron Foods), foodservice (e.g., Sterling Supergroup), education, healthcare and service work — with no publicly disclosed pricing. Commercial activity is supplemented by trade-show marketing (IFE, Sterling events, BFFF Awards), community and grassroots sport partnerships (Hull FC and its Foundation), and an active direct digital presence. Revenue, headcount trend and customer concentration figures are not publicly disclosed in the source material, and no acquisitions, external funding rounds or international subsidiaries are present in the company history.

Name

Seafish UK

Legal name

Seafish UK Ltd

Website

https://seafishuk.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Seafish UK is a family-owned frozen seafood manufacturer based in Hull, producing coated, battered, ready-meal and protein-bake products across multiple sub-brands for UK retailers (including Lidl and Heron Foods), foodservice operators, and institutional customers, with no publicly disclosed revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Frozen Seafood Manufacturing

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Breaded/Battered & Fried Seafood Products (Frozen Convenience) (AFANADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Shellfish Value-Added Products (Shucked Oysters, Mussels, Clams; Cooked/Marinated) (AFANALAK), Finfish Processing (Filleting, Portioning, Trimming) (AFANADAB)

Keywords

• Frozen seafood manufacturing
• Coated fish products
• Private label seafood
• Ready meal production
• Bespoke sauce solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston upon Hull

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Frozen Seafood Product Sales: Manufacturing and selling frozen seafood products including battered, breaded, and dusted fish products, ready meals, and protein bakes to retail and foodservice customers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Seafish UK is a family-owned frozen seafood manufacturer that produces coated fish products (battered, breaded, and dusted), ready meals, and protein bakes at its 85,000 sq ft facility in Hull. The company serves retail chains, foodservice operators, healthcare, education, and service work customers across the UK and Europe, offering both branded sub-portfolios (Sheltie, Ocean Bistro, Nanna Carter's, A Different Catch, Last Catch) and bespoke product development through its Fishspoke Solutions in-house kitchen team.

Product overview

Seafish UK is a family-owned frozen seafood manufacturer operating as a single unified production business with multiple sub-brands and product categories. The company offers five distinct branded portfolios: A Different Catch (protein bakes - new 2026 launch), Sheltie (mid-tier seafood staples), Ocean Bistro (premium gourmet offerings), Nanna Carter's (traditional comfort foods), and Last Catch (phased-out favourites). Core product categories span Fillets, Dusted, Fingers, Bites & Goujons, Fishcakes, Toppers, Portions, and Ready Meals. The company also provides bespoke product development services through its Fishspoke Solutions team and custom sauce manufacturing. All products are manufactured at the company's 85,000+ square foot facility in Hull with three production lines capable of producing up to 3 tonnes per hour.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A Different Catch: A bold new range of protein bakes launched in 2026, featuring products like Mexican Chicken, Chicken Ham & Cheese, and Bombay Chicken Curry Protein Bakes. This brand reflects evolving tastes beyond traditional seafood.
• Sheltie
• Ocean Bistro
• Nanna Carter's
• Last Catch

Products and services

• A Different Catch (Protein Bakes Range) Sub-brand of bold protein bakes featuring reimagined everyday favourites through versatile cook-from-frozen formats designed for modern lifestyles, including Mexican Chicken, Chicken Ham & Cheese, and Bombay Chicken Curry variants. Targeted at retail and foodservice customers seeking non-traditional seafood options.
• Sheltie Mid-tier seafood brand offering reliable quality at accessible prices. Includes Fish Fingers, Toppers, Portions, Fillets, and Bites — versatile and family-friendly options for retail customers.
• Ocean Bistro Premium seafood brand offering gourmet experiences with high fish content, sophisticated flavours, and convenient ready-to-cook meals including Goujons, Lightly Dusted Fillets, Ready Meals, and Steam Fresh Fillets. Targeted at retail and foodservice premium buyers.
• Nanna Carter's Comfort food brand celebrating traditional flavours with modern twists. Products include Fishcakes (Cod and Parsley, Salmon Lemon and Dill, Spicy Crab with Pollock), Smoked Haddock & Cheddar Cheese, Battered Haddock Burger, and Children's Range.
• Last Catch End-of-line sub-brand offering delisted favourites and limited-time offerings of products being phased out in favour of improved recipes.
• Fishspoke Solutions (Bespoke Product Development) Bespoke product development service in which the in-house kitchen team collaborates with customers to design, develop and trial custom frozen seafood and coated products tailored to specific retail or foodservice requirements.
• Bespoke Sauce Manufacturing Custom sauce manufacturing service developing value-adding sauce solutions in partnership with customers for ready meals, toppers and foodservice menu applications.
• Coated Fillets Natural or shaped fish fillets coated in crispy 3 way-cook batter or rustic golden breadcrumbs. Core product category serving retail and foodservice customers.
• Lightly Dusted Fillets Skinless and boneless fish fillets with a light dusting coating, positioned as a healthier frozen seafood option.
• Fish Fingers Fish fillet fingers coated in crispy 3 way-cook batter or golden breadcrumbs, sold primarily under the Sheltie mid-tier brand.
• Bites & Goujons Fish fillet bites and goujons available in crispy batter, golden breadcrumbs or flavoured crumb coatings.
• Fishcakes Fish fillets blended with potato, IQF ingredients and seasonings then coated in golden breadcrumbs. Includes Cod and Parsley, Salmon Lemon and Dill, and Spicy Crab with Pollock variants.
• Toppers Skinless and boneless fish fillet portions topped with various sauces and coated, designed for complete meal solutions.
• Ready Meals Fish fillets in a range of sauces and toppings, produced on a dedicated ready meal manufacturing, freezing and packing line. Targets retail and foodservice ready-meal customers.
• Coated Portions Fish fillet portions coated in crispy 3 way-cook batter or rustic golden breadcrumbs, supplied to retail and foodservice customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 tonnes per hour production capacity across 3 production lines
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hull FCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Club Partners, backing a club that has been part of the Carter and Acklam family story for generations. Supports grassroots sport and community engagement.
• Hull FC Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Ambassadors supporting three key areas: Health & Wellbeing, Inclusion, and Armed Forces in our Community.
• Andy LastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsoring Hull FC's Assistant Head Coach and supporting leadership both on and off the field.
• Chanterlands Girls Football ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting the next generation of confident, committed young athletes in grassroots football.
• British Frozen Food FederationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProud 2025 and 2026 Event Partner Sponsors, championing innovation and excellence across the frozen food industry. Over 30 years as a member of BFFF.
• Henry CallisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProudly backing a record-breaking young swimmer as he continues to achieve remarkable success.
• West Hull ARLFCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting the club during their memorable Challenge Cup clash against St Helens - a display of grit, passion and Yorkshire pride.
• Sterling Supergroup LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAttended Sterling Supergroup Spring Show and CONNECT events to showcase products and strengthen relationships. Part of the frozen, chilled and ambient food and drink distribution network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Thai Union Group: Global seafood conglomerate producing branded (Chicken of the Sea, John West) and private-label frozen seafood products. Comparable in frozen seafood manufacturing scale and product format but with global footprint that Seafish UK lacks.
• Princes Group: Large UK food and beverage group with seafood, canned fish, and prepared foods divisions serving major UK retailers and foodservice operators. Overlaps with Seafish UK in seafood manufacturing and private-label supply but operates across much broader food categories.
• Birds Eye (Nomad Foods): Market-leading UK frozen seafood brand owned by Nomad Foods, offering fish fingers, breaded fillets, and ready meals across all major grocers. Significant overlap with Seafish UK's battered/breaded product range but at much larger scale and broader international footprint.

Direct peers

• Iglo Group: European frozen fish and seafood brand (part of Nomad Foods) with direct overlap to Seafish UK's battered fillets and fish finger categories across UK and continental European markets. Comparable mid-tier positioning with retail-led distribution.
• Young's Seafood: UK-based frozen and chilled seafood manufacturer supplying major retailers including Lidl, Asda, and M&S. Closest direct competitor to Seafish UK in terms of customer base, product format (breaded/battered fillets, fish fingers, ready meals), and B2B manufacturing model.
• Lyons Seafoods: UK seafood specialist with shellfish and prepared seafood offerings for retail and foodservice. Comparable UK-based B2B seafood processor with overlapping customer base in foodservice and grocery channels.
• Findon Group: UK frozen seafood and value-added protein manufacturer serving retail private label and foodservice customers. Comparable business model (B2B, multi-category, UK-based) and product overlap in coated fish and ready meals.
• Whitby Seafoods: UK-based seafood manufacturer specializing in scampi, fish cakes, and coated seafood products for retail and foodservice. Closely comparable in product format (coated seafood), customer profile, and family-owned UK heritage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/seafishukltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/seafishukltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seafish-uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/seafishukltd

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seafish UK