Jan 5 2012 Flintshire Chronicle
A CHESTER business duo are toasting their success after their own range of sustainable tuna products hit UK supermarkets.
When Bryn Scadeng and Angela Fitzpatrick first met, they were both working for John West Foods in Liverpool, and hit it off straight away.
It wasn’t long before they discovered they shared a mutual interest in the environment, and after arguing for a sustainable alternative to tuna in their own company, decided to leave and set up their own business in a converted barn in Ashton Hayes, near Kelsall.
In 2009, Reel Fish was born, and the pair haven’t looked back since.
Founded on the principle ‘better for everyone’, the company uses the highest quality skipjack tuna, sourced from the clear blue waters of the Maldives, using the traditional pole and line fishing method.
It is currently the only branded tuna in the UK to use Maldivian caught pole and line tuna exclusively in its cans, and is more sustainable than others, due to the fact that fish are hand-caught individually, without using nets, which doesn’t endanger other fish and sea animals.
And the product is going from strength to strength. This July, Bryn and Angela launched their tuna in Asda, followed by Waitrose and Tesco, and will bring it to Sainsbury’s next month.
Angela said: “As a mum myself, I know how important it is to be able to give your family great food that is fuss-free and good value too.
“Reel Fish doesn't cost any more than other net caught brandsŠand you get the added value of a warm feeling on the inside, knowing you are doing the right thing by buying a more sustainable product,” she added.
Next on the agenda for the pair is to release the short educational animation video they have made, on to national TV.
You can watch the film on the company’s website, www.reelfish.co.uk, as well as finding more information about the product.