ny has just launched a range of ‘Pop in the Oven’ convenience meals under the Fabulous Fish brand and is casting its net far and wide for new business, says Ray Ryan.These are exciting times for the Good Fish Company, the family-run specialist processor and retailer, whose modern plant in Carrigaline, Co Cork, is located close to the major fishing ports on the south coast — Castletownbere, Union Hall, and Kinsale.
Founded by Denis Good in 1988, the company also has shops in Carrigaline, Ballincollig, Kinsale, Douglas Court, Bishopstown, and South Douglas Rd, all populated centres close to Cork City.
Last week, it launched an exciting new range of easy-cook ‘pop in the oven’ convenience seafood meals, branded as Mr Good’s Fabulous Fish and available in Tesco Ireland stores.
And it confirmed it is hoping to expand into new markets for its range of fish products.
Britain is currently the main focus of the Good Fish Company’s export agenda, but it also has mainland Europe in its sights for smoked salmon products, popular in that region.
The company, which has annual revenue of about €10m and employs 61 people, was set up with the intention of providing the local area with the best quality, freshest fish on a daily basis. With the help of significant resources and technology, it has grown to become one of the largest fish processors in Ireland, providing a wide variety of seafood products.
Mr Good’s Fabulous Fish, the latest product offering, comes in a special pouch pack. The new brand range comes in three varieties — cajun spiced salmon fillet, lemon marinated hake fillets, and garlic and herb marinated cod fillets, with other products to follow.
Maria Broderick, the company’s business development manager, said the fact that the product can be cooked using a variety of cooking methods gives it a distinct advantage.
“The multi-cook pouch is unique to the market,” she said. “The specialised packaging we use allows consumers to cook the product in the oven, microwave, or on the hob in simmering water with no need to remove any packaging. This means you are preserving all the nutrients and goodness of the fish while cooking,” she said.
Ms Broderick thanked Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Enterprise Ireland, and Bord Bia for their assistance.
The product range was developed by Good Fish with the assistance of the BIM Seafood Development Centre in Clonakilty, Co Cork. A purpose-built facility, the SDC enables seafood companies to develop and test new products using the range of technology and expertise in the centre before committing to capital expenditure.
Aileen Deasy, BIM’s seafood technologist, said this range of products is so convenient it makes fish simple and easy to cook.
“They offer a complete solution to anybody who wants to cook fish at home, at work, and who is generally on the go with busy lifestyles,” said Ms Deasy. “The unique pouch retains the goodness of the fish in its natural juices.
“Individually wrapped portions offers great choice for customers who wish to have the option of enjoying a healthy seafood meal at different times.”
The Good Fish Company also produces other value-added products, such as haddock/salmon goujons and white fish nuggets, which are popular with children.
These products will be incorporated into the Mr Good’s Fabulous Fish brand in the future, as will their smoked Irish organic salmon and superior smoked salmon.
The product is also suitable for the foodservice market, particularly for premises with limited kitchen facilities and staff.
The Good Fish Company, which is signed up to Bord Bia’s voluntary sustainability programme, Origin Green, also supplies the Irish retail and foodservice sectors with non-branded products.
It stressed that it is committed to supporting Irish fishermen by adopting the Responsible Irish Fish label for Irish fish and shellfish.
The new label has been introduced to ensure Irish fisherman can differentiate their products as 100% Irish in the marketplace, with all products bearing the RIF logo and fully traceable to an Irish vessel. The label is only available to processors who source fish from Irish vessels, which are part of the Responsible Irish Fish Association.
Denis Good, managing director Good Fish Company, said: ‘We believe this scheme will protect and develop the fishing industry. We know that our customers are keen to buy fresh Irish seafood whenever possible and this scheme will provide them with the quality and assurance they are looking for.”
The company’s fish and shellfish are supplied by local Irish boats and trawlers, which are engaged in responsible and sustainable fishing.
Processing takes place on the day of landing in the company’s certified plant, which includes n-house smoking and kitchen facilities.
The company said, in working together with these suppliers, it is helping to develop the local economy and environment.
