Star Agro Marine, a major producer of shrimp based in India, has seen rapid expansion of its operations in the United Kingdom.
The company’s U.K. operation, located in Wolverhampton, has logged more than GBP 4 million in sales in the past six month and recently reached the milestone of GBP 10 million (USD 13.1 million, EUR 11.6 million) in total sales.
“Our two high-street retailers have signed significant deals and the company’s wholesale business has quadrupled over the last six months and now lists high-profile Chinese and Asian restaurants amongst its client base,” Star Agro Marine Foods Managing Director Steve Money said.
Star Agro Marine Foods sells freshwater, black tiger and vannamei shrimp in cooked and raw form as well as shrimp-focused value-added products. The U.K. operation continues to expand with a new trade counter and a new cold storage unit, an investment totaling more than GBP 100,000 (USD 131,000, EUR 116,000). The company now employs 11 people in the U.K.
“2016 has been a major year of growth for the Wolverhampton firm, with sales up…despite currency fluctuations caused by the Brexit vote,” Money said. “There is an increasing demand for high quality shrimps and white fish, including tilapia, cod and pangasius fish. We’ve seen it from the big supermarket chains we supply and the restaurant/hotel trade…now we’re beginning to see it from individuals and families who want to buy in smaller quantities.”
Money said the firm is aiming for GBP 100,000 (USD 131,000, EUR 116,000) in sales from its new trade counter in its first year.
“That would be a good result,” he said. “The trade counter, which is open six days per week, gives people the chance to come down and buy shrimp that is direct from some of the best sustainable farms in India and Bangladesh.”
The company has support from restaurateur Mohammed Khan, who also serves as a consultant to Star Agro Marine Foods.
“This is just the start of a really ambitious sales drive for the business and the next six months will see us launch another new Star Agro brand, introduce new products to the range and create our own ordering and delivery app,” Khan said. “The latter will be available on Android and iPhone and gives our customers the opportunity to place orders and have them delivered direct to their door.”
