A deal that sees Grimsby Seafood Village come under the control of Associated British Ports (ABP) is said to provide security for the key processing site.
The port operator's acquisition of the 70,000 sqft, 21-unit site has been welcomed by its creators Pete Dalton and Gary Cadey. ABP has purchased the long leasehold of 125 years, which it had previously granted to the owners of the Humber site, which is home to fish processing businesses.
The village is said to be a key part of the Humber seafood cluster, which employs about 6,000 people directly and supports a wider supply chain of more than 10,000. Around 70% of the Ƶ's seafood is processed in Grimsby, with ABP saying its acquisition safeguards food security.
Andrew Dawes, regional director of the Humber ports said: “The acquisition of the Grimsby Seafood Village strengthens Associated British Ports’ commitment to keeping Britain trading. It enhances our property portfolio with a vital hub for the Ƶ’s seafood supply chain - supporting regional jobs, boosting food security, and anchoring long-term supply chain resilience in the heart of the Humber."
Greg Lacey, head of property in the Humber, added: “The acquisition of this site is a strategic addition to Associated British Ports’ growing property portfolio, reinforcing our commitment to regional prosperity and underpinning food security. Pete and Gary leave an important legacy, and we look forward to taking stewardship of the facility and working with customers to support their ongoing operations.
“With over 158,000 small and medium-sized enterprises now thriving in Yorkshire and the Humber, this investment creates new opportunities for local businesses, strengthens the seafood supply chain, and supports our customer ambitions. It complements our bold expansion at the Stallingborough Interchange - where we’re investing in over 227 acres to deliver state-of-the-art port logistics, green energy, and industrial space - ensuring ABP continues to Keep Britain Trading."
Pete Dalton and Gary Cadey, who created The Village, said: “We would like to congratulate ABP on their acquisition of the site. The vision we had 15 years ago was to enable the merchants to remain on the dock area in a close community environment to enable them to work together in a modern facility. We feel that we achieved this very successfully and are happy to see our vision thrive and be able to continue well into the future. We wish ABP and all the tenants our very best wishes as we now take a back seat and slow down a little.”
Simon Dwyer, CEO, Grimsby Fish Merchants Association Limited, added: “The Grimsby Fish Merchants Association congratulate Associated British Ports on acquiring the Great Grimsby Seafood Village from its owners. The Village is an integral part of the Grimsby Seafood Cluster of over 5000 jobs, and we welcome the change of ownership.
"Our appreciation and best wishes go particularly, to Pete Dalton and Gary Cadey, for being the entrepreneurial pioneers of developing the Village for the many seafood businesses it's served for the last 13 years. The FMA look forward to working with ABP in continuing to deliver a top-class processing and distribution facility in the heart of their Port."
