Scottish-based Macduff Shellfish recently acquired the U.K.’s largest scallop fishing fleet, and now the company is setting its sights on America, seeking an expansion to the states.The company will be exhibiting at the International Boston Seafood Show next week, its first appearance at the show, and Roy Cunningham, the company’s managing director, said this week that he hopes the show will be its first step toward coming to the U.S..
“While we trade predominantly in Europe, we see opportunities to build a customer base in the U.S. primarily in scallops and prawns and view Boston as a stepping stone to help us achieving that goal,” he said. “We’re looking forward to building our connections through the Show.”
In 2012, the company set a goal to double in size in the next five years. A key step in that process was its acquisition of Scott Trawlers, the U.K.-based scallop fishing fleet.
“This is a really exciting time in Macduff Shellfish’s continued expansion,” said Euan Beaton, Macduff’s chairman. “Over the last 10 years we’ve quadrupled the business. In the next five years I’d like us to double it again through entering new markets such as the U.S., acquiring other businesses and achieving organic growth, including diversifying into other shellfish categories.”
