Latest UK seafood sector review shows Brexit and Covid-19 impacts but fish and chip sector recovers strongly New review from Seafish looks at UK seafood supply chain from January to March 2021
in retail and the remarkable recovery of the fish and chip sector are positive signs. Businesses throughout the
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seafood supply chain are hopeful that domestic markets
seafood businesses as Covid-19 infections increased and
highlighted in this January to March 2021 report include:
restrictions remained. New requirements to trade with
• Businesses trading with the EU experienced major
the EU also came into effect. Many exporting businesses
disruptions and delays due to new trading requirements
experienced major disruptions in January and February,
and logistical issues.
eafish has published its latest review into how the
will continue to improve as restrictions further reduce.”
impacts of Covid-19 have been felt across the UK’s
Combining real-time insights from seafood businesses
seafood supply chain. The latest report from the
with quantitative data, the quarterly reports aim to
public body that supports the UK seafood industry
give businesses, organisations and government a fuller
covers January to March 2021.
understanding of how the impacts of Covid-19 have
It was a period of uncertainty and volatility for many UK
with increased transit time and cost still being an issue to the end of March. Commenting on the report Aoife Martin, Director of Operations at Seafish, said: “Adjusting to a new trading environment has caused major difficulties to many seafood businesses in the UK. Some
been felt along the seafood supply chain. Key findings
• Shellfish exporters saw the greatest disruption, with live bivalve mollusc producers in class B and C waters unable to sell into EU markets. • Retail sales dropped back year-on-year from the unprecedented levels seen in March 2020 but remained strong, continuing to outperform sales in recent years.
issues, such as those faced by live bi-valve mollusc producers,
• Lockdown meant that foodservice businesses were
have been particularly severe and well documented. But
limited to takeaway and delivery trade. Fish and chip
many businesses have faced disruption on a lesser scale, such as getting to grips with new paperwork requirements as well as experiencing logistical issues and delays.
shop trade recovered to pre-pandemic levels. • Processing businesses faced a range of supply and demand constraints.
“On top of this the industry has continued to deal with
• Many UK businesses reliant on seafood imports did
the challenges of operating during a global pandemic.
not face significant sourcing issues, having stockpiled
While to some extent the disruptions caused by Covid-19
frozen material in 2020.
have become ‘the norm’, the ongoing impact on businesses across the sector should not be underestimated. “However, the continuing strong performance of seafood 8
Fastfood Professional • August and September 2021
• Covid-19 continued to impact the workforce, but increased asymptomatic testing helped control the spread of the virus in processing environments. August and September 2021 • Fastfood Professional
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