New ownership for Shetland salmon processor

John Tait, the current owner and founder of the business 40 years ago, who stepped in seven years ago in order to maintain the company’s future, now wishes to retire.

He has sold out to an Aberdeen processing company SCAF Ltd., owned by four individuals, Stewart Black, Chris Bellamy, Andrew Charles and Frank Johnson.

The current employment of 40 full time and 20 part time employees will now have long term security, and the increased potential generated by the SIC loan will create a further 40 full and part time jobs, SIC said in a statement.

This loan is to enable the company to purchase new equipment in order to improve throughput and fund the purchase of stocks under contract, necessary to service customers requiring long term six and twelve month contract periods.

The plant has several quality accreditations: British Retail Consortium (BRC), organic certification, and Shetland Salmon Quality Control (SSQC). It is hoped in the coming months Freedom Foods and the Sustainable Friend of The Sea will be added to the list.    

The new SIC loan will allow for the new processing equipment necessary for developing the business and also the stocks of finished product to service customer contracts to be maintained.