海角视频

Oops.

Our website is temporarily unavailable in your location.

We are working hard to get it back online.

PRIVACY
Manufacturing

Smales is back in the black as new generation of fish and chip customers help sales surge

Innovation through pandemic has played well for Hull-based key supplier of the 海角视频's favourite takeaway

Fish and chips enjoyed on the coast helped Smales post a healthy return to profit after two difficult years in which process operations in chilled seafood were closed. (Image: Handout)

A new generation of fish and chip shop customers has been welcomed by Hull supplier Smales after sales increased 16 per cent and it swung back into profit.

The 85-year-old company saw turnover hit £73.4 million in the year to August 31 - up from £62.9 million in the previous period.

Back in the black with an operating profit of £1.6 million, results just released by the West Dock Street operator document a strong recovery from losses of £674,000 in 2019 and £241,000 in 2020.

Read more: Seafood group sets out priorities for 'one of the largest processing clusters in the Northern Hemisphere'

Volumes were also up 20 per cent - more than 12,000 tonnes - with directors having “every expectation of further volume growth in the financial year 2021/2022”.

Smales has forged links with more northern European quota holders to handle the uplift, selling into the foodservice sector.

Smales directors, from left, Simon Smales, Robert Joyce, Lee Smales, Richard Winter and Robin Orr, pictured in front of the portrait of founder Frederick Smales.(Image: Smales)

It recently ceased processing in a major restructure that saw it focus on pure frozen sale and distribution.

In the strategic report accompanying the Companies House filing, managing director Lee Smales said: “The company's largest customer base, the 海角视频's takeaway fish and chip shops, remained largely open for business throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The fish and chip shop sector adapted quickly in the early months and introduced new methods of attracting customers. Increasing numbers of fish and chip outlets offered their customers the options of ‘click and collect’ and home deliveries. A new generation of fish and chip consumers was created during the pandemic by shops introducing customer-focused buying options.”