DUKE OF ROTHESAY SEES SUSTAINABLITY IN ACTION AT AMITY FISH CO
Peterhead October 5 2021
Royal Visit for Peterhead Seafood Supplier
Amity Fish Company Ltd, Scottish Seafood Supplier, welcomed the HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay to its base of operations Peterhead.
The Duke (how the Prince of Wales is known when travelling Scotland) was greeted by company MD Jimmy Buchan and his team as part of a series of visits focused on supply chain and fantastic local produce.
This follows a meeting at Birkhall in October 2020, where the Duke expressed his keen interest in the local fishing industry, sustainability and the environment. This year, Jimmy was eager to update the Duke on Amity’s continued focus on sustainability, which has resulted in the business being listed as an official seafood supplier for the upcoming COP26 climate change event.
Of the visit, MD Jimmy Buchan said: “We were proud to host a walk through of our supply chain operations where we explained our desire to improve on our sustainability footprint and how we are working to improve the integrity of our products during transit to customers.”
Following an introduction to the team, Head of Logistics Marie Cross gave a hands-on demonstration of how Amity’s fish boxes are picked, packaged and sent when online orders are received.
The Duke was given a brief history of the company’s journey, including recent business challenges presented by COVID and lockdown. Jimmy was keen to introduce his expanding team, as several new members have been recruited throughout lockdown to meet the demands of the business. The visit also provided insight into Amity’s passion for sustainability and it’s mission to champion the sustainable harvesting of seafood. In 2021 the business has invested in greener packaging (drastically reducing packaging and waste with the introduction of cardboard, boxes and dry ice to pack fish boxes and orders).
Starting up 2006, Amity Fish Company has grown and evolved in the past 15 years to become a much-respected Scottish Seafood supplier to businesses and homes across the UK. From it’s base in Peterhead, Scotland’s premier fishing port, Amity works closely with local producers and trawlers to source, supply and develop the best seafood products and produce for its valued customers, recently winning a Great Taste star from the Guild of Fine Foods for Amity Panko Breaded Single Wholetail Scampi.
Outside of Amity, Jimmy is also CEO of Scottish Seafood Association, representing over 70 processing and associated businesses across Scotland. HRH and his office have kept a close association with the Seafood sector dating back to the days when HRH The Queen Mother was resident at Birkhall and she hosted a presentation from the then Aberdeen and Fish Curers and Merchants Association. HRH has continued to keep in contact with the seafood processing sector through Scottish Seafood Association by inviting members to Birkhall each year to share their experiences of the industry and present their wide range of fish and shellfish
During the tour of Amity HQ, Jimmy was proud to present fellow stakeholders with representation from the seafood sector to The Duke, demonstrating the need for close collaboration between each port’s catching sector through processing and onward food service.
Mike Park, CEO of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association reflected on the work that member vessels continue to carry out regarding improved selectivity as well as reducing their contact with, and impact on, the seabed. “Of particular interest to the Duke was the transition of the fleet in reducing their carbon footprint through new vessel hull design and the next generation of low carbon emission engines”.
Jimmy was accompanied by his wife and company director, Irene Buchan, alongside Operations and Business Development Manager Julie Coutts, Head of Finance Stella Clark and staff members Marie Cross, Ellie Fyffe and Wayne Douglas who support the intake and dispatch of orders.
Amity Fish Company are a Scottish seafood supply business who fulfil trade and consumer orders of high-quality Scottish fish and shellfish right across mainland UK, with emphasis on provenance, sustainability and traceability. For more information, please visit www.amityfish.co.uk or contact or team directly with your query at orders@amityfish.co.uk.
