Mintlaw-based Macduff Shellfish has acquired the U.K.’s largest scallop fishing fleet, Scott Trawlers, in a ground-breaking deal for the two businesses, backed by Royal Bank of Scotland.
The purchase, a first for Macduff Shellfish in acquiring a whole fleet of fishing vessels, brings together two major players in the shellfish industry and enables greater integration through the scallop catching, processing, sales and marketing process.
It forms part of an ambitious plan by Macduff Shellfish — the U.K.’s largest wild caught shellfish processor — to double the size of its business in the next five years.
Scott Trawlers, based in Dumfries, operates five scallop vessels, two of which have ‘frozen at sea’ capabilities, unique to the scallop industry. The vessels account for over 15 percent of all U.K. scallop landings. The company also has a fleet of refrigerated lorries and a marine engineering business, catering for the manufacturing needs of scallop fishermen. It employs 50 employees across the three operations, 35 of whom are fishermen.
Macduff Shellfish, based in Mintlaw near Peterhead, processes shellfish and exports to Europe and the Far East as well as supplying the UK market.
