U.K.-headquartered retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S), which operates more than 1,400 stores globally, has launched several new seafood products and has placed a greater focus on domestic species.
The grocer said it made the move in response to customer requests for more midweek family meal options, leading the company to upgrade its fish, meat, and poultry selections, M&S Food Managing Director Alex Freudmann said on LinkedIn.
In its fish department, the chain has launched 30 new products, upgraded 51, and added 10 additional species to its portfolio, with 15 British species now represented across the aisles of M&S.
Freudmann said as a result, the range is easier to shop and cook.
New products include M&S own-brand Yellowfin Wild Pacific Yellowfin Tuna, Kiln Smoked Wild Scottish Haddock, Wild Icelandic Redfish, and Mediterranean Sea Bass.
The company has also partnered with Cork, Ireland-based Keohane Seafoods to launch Organic Irish Oak Smoked Salmon, available in M&S stores across Ireland.
Developed exclusively for M&S over three years and produced on Ireland's southwest coast, premium ready-to-eat M&S Organic Irish Oak Smoked Salmon is carefully cured before being gently smoked over natural oak chips, creating a delicate texture and subtle smoky flavor, the chain said in a release.
The product was developed through close collaboration between the M&S product development team and Keohane Seafoods, with the process entailing refining the recipe, curing and smoking, and then bringing the final product to market.
"Our fish are farmed in the clean coastal waters around Ireland, bringing together the best of Ireland's natural environment with responsible farming practices. We have worked closely with M&S to develop a product that meets the high standards both businesses are known for,” Keohane Managing Director Colman Keohane said.
The partnership is set to continue beyond this launch, with M&S and Keohane developing additional products due to launch this Christmas.
