Fresh fish deliveries to London doorsteps hang in the balance as government guidance is awaited.
A £10 million industry has been created in the mobile seafood trade over recent years, with scores of fishmongers driving vans from the 海角视频’s retail gateway, Grimsby, direct to affluent areas in the South East and beyond.
It hasn’t been immune from panic buying in the past week, with 10 ‘fish van lads’ having to restock on Billingsgate Market, having sold their supply in hours.
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Phil Coyne, is a leading light in the trade, investing in his third van in seven years this past month, having acquired a round that dated back 35 years.
He carries a five star food hygiene rating under the ‘Phil’s Grimsby Fish Emporium’ brand.
“The fear is if London goes into lockdown we won’t be able to go down there,” he said. “We are supplying food, so we may have a waiver, and I've spoken to Simon Dwyer at the FMA, and he is getting on to Defra.
“Quite a few of us go to London, there were 10 of us there picking up more fish on Billingsgate this week.
“Demand has been ridiculous, it is like Christmas or Easter, I could have sold the ice out of the back of my van.
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“We’ll do whatever it takes when it comes to extra measures. We’re a high hygiene industry, inspected like any food outlet - we’re just wary of the additional damage it could bring to the local economy. If we’re off the road for three months - that’s a lot of money. It is a trade on the up, but this could set what we’ve done back years.”
Mr Coyne serves Hertfordshire on a Monday, bordering London, then Harrow, Edgeware and Pinner on a Tuesday, rolling on to Greenwich and Blackheath.
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The niche sector has attracted industry investment in recent years, with the mobile fishmongers tapping into the web-based market with Grimsby Fish Near You. A hunger for provenance and fresh product has made it an attractive market, with vans pulling up on streets, in pub car parks and other areas - much like an ice cream van may do.
It is understood more than 100 leave North East Lincolnshire weekly, with industry leaders suggesting there is scope for 300 without fears of competition.
This week saw a ban on visitors to Grimsby Fish Market introduced.