The Good Fish Company and Keohane Seafoods to also get boost.
In a statement on Friday, Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine Michael Creed has announced EUR 3.5 million in new investment for six seafood processing companies (three that does salmon). His department’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme will be providing grants of EUR 1 million.
Carr & Sons Seafood is getting a total of EUR 387,141 (with EUR 116,142 from Ireland) to extend and modernise its salmon processing facility at Killala, on the North West coast of Ireland.
The company acquired the 108 year-old Nolans Quality Seafood this year. Though both smokers are now part of Sweden’s Mondi Group.
The Good Fish Company, one of the largest fish processors in Ireland, which processes wild and farmed fish at Carrigaline Co. Cork, is getting EUR 396,000 to uprade its packaging capacity and efficiency. It also has its own in house smoking facility for its Good Fish Smoked Salmon.
Cork-based Keohane Seafoods processes a fresh fillet selection from a range of species including salmon. It is receiving EUR 1.4 million to improve its factory flow, efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Minister Creed explained that the funds are to assist seafood companies get back to business with capital, innovation, marketing and other supports.
He said despite challenging times “we can have optimism again for future prosperity and growth”.
“These six companies are preparing their businesses to grow exports and value because they have the confidence to know that our seafood sector is a high growth sector and that it will resume its long-term growth pattern now that markets are getting over the recent temporary, albeit severe difficulties.
“The national strategy is to add value wherever possible to our seafood products to ensure those products are well placed in the market. These grants will assist these Irish Seafood companies to deliver on that strategy,” added Creed.
