News page

Spring 2007

2007 already looks like being a very exciting year for Holmes Seafoods and their Customers.

We have just completed negotiations to bring the ‘Neptun’ & ‘Epic’ range to you on a sole distribution basis in the UK. We are in negotiations with Canada’s largest Cold Water Prawn producer to try and bring you consistent, quality of supply; and are well underway in introducing a much larger range of Indian produced products under our new ‘Arno’ label

When you also include our first appearance at this yeas IFE07 exhibition you can perhaps understand our excitement and hopes for 2007.

Crevette Prices continue to fall!

Personally, I can not ever remember Cooked Crevette prices being this low!

We have a current situation where traditional French packers are now finding themselves in competition with ever improving Spanish packers. Raw material prices have fallen noticeable mainly due to the very weak Dollar; and there is increased product competition from the likes of Raw Head on King Prawns and Raw Peeled King Prawns which are proving to be more versatile.

The result of all of this is great news for our Customers as prices have steadily been falling over the last 6 months.

At present I have no reason to believe they will fall further, but nor do I see and reason for prices rising again in the short term.

So! Now is the time to invest in our two excellent exclusive brands ‘D.E.M’ French product or ‘Latinus’ Spanish product.

Indian HLSO and P&D Seawater Blocks

As part of our increasing range of ‘Arno’ branded top quality Indian products, we will be talking delivery in March of our first Container of Seawater block King Prawns

HLSO will be offered in sizes 21/25 to 31/40 and Peeled and de-veined in 26/30 to 31/40

Top quality, top counts, great packaging and competitive prices!

These will add to our ‘Arno’ range which already includes, Raw Peeled IQF Black Tigers; Baby cleaned Squid, Octopus and Cuttlefish.

Over the year we hope to further extend this range with other quality products.

Gold Ribbon extends its catchments

Holmes Seafoods has been representing ‘Ocean Pac’ and its range of Malaysian ‘Gold Ribbon’ King Prawn products for many years now.

The brand has built up a fantastic following and stands at the peak of the Asian produced labels.

2006 saw the introduction of their new updated packaging for both 1kg Raw Head on King Prawns and 500g value added packs of Filo, Breaded Butterfly, Tempura Battered and Japanese style King Prawns.

We have also introduced a second brand from Ocean Pac, ‘Royal Blue’ to target the more competitive 600g net Head on Market.

Cold Water Cooked & Peeled Prawns

Unfortunately, you can rest assured that the cost of your Prawn Cocktail will have to rise this year!

As the worlds single largest user of Cold Water Prawns, the UK has a major effect on the price and demand of this product. Unfortunately that effect in recent years has been to drive down prices and see many of the traditional Icelandic and Norwegian Producers pull out or close down as they struggle to pay higher raw material prices and find themselves having to cut Sales margins. (It has become more viable for many to mothball the factories than to continue loosing money.)

They have also faced the emerging presence of Canadian producers trying, (Quite successfully), to become the new major player in the Mkt.

This year however, even Canada is stating that if we are not prepaid to pay the required prices, they will not produce.

So! 2007. There will be very little production from Iceland and what there is you can expect to rise to 20% above last years levels. This will lead to most packers, (including the likes of Royal Greenland and of course ourselves), to turn to Canada for supplies.

We have made sure that we are dealing with the biggest and best of these producers to maintain consistent supplies and negotiate the very best price levels.

We have increased our buying of the superb ‘Ice Shrimp’ range from

‘F. P. I.’ and are finalising a packing and distribution deal with another of the countries largest packers.

So! Your Prawn Cocktail may go up a little, but long may it live.

Pressure continues on the Breaded Scampi Mkt.

2006 saw the actual implementation and policing of the imposed quotas on whole Scampi landings for the first time!

The effect on the industry has been quite dramatic with worries over shortages pushing prices up higher and higher at costal markets and to the fisherman.

So far the Wholesalers have only experienced a small percentage of this increase on produced and packed products, but that will change as we progress through 2007.

Our Breaded Scampi products are set to rise 10-12% by the end of April and further increases are certain.

To ease the situation we have increased our range of Breaded Scampi and the specifications available including sole UK rights to the ‘Castle Bay’ brand. At the end of the day though, in order to maintain our quality, all prices will rise accordingly.

Cuttlefish Fillets

Has anyone seen any???

Large Cuttlefish at source in Asia has become extremely hard to come by with what little these is being produced going direct to Japan for very high prices.

If you are a producer out there and you have an unlimited supply of Large Cuttle fillets, please phone us! We would love to hear from you.

Tilapia prices extremely attractive

During 2005 & 2006 we were very restricted on our sources of Black and Red Tilapia Products. There was a ban on the traditional Taiwanese fish, (Antibiotic residue problems), so most importers switched their buying to Thailand or the less popular Panamanian fish. Prices could be high and continuity of supply difficult.

This situation has now eased tremendously. China has entered the Mkt with many Taiwanese managed factories now acquiring EU approval for both Whole Fish & Tilapia Fillets. China’s emergence in the market has also caused Thailand to become far more competitive and we have all gained from the overall situation. There is now plentiful supply of this excellent sustainable product flowing into the UK and the market especially for the Fillets continues to grow.

Squid Prices hit rock bottom

Following a period of two or three years where we have seen tight supplies & very high prices for Illex & Arrow Squid, things have certainly turned around in the last 12 months.

Catches have been excellent of both Illex & Pacific Species and again with China now emerging as the main processing and packing power, prices have fallen to a record low!

The Taiwanese product is still maintaining its reputation for being of a slightly better quality, (in the handling process), but the Chinese packers have upped their game tremendously and the truth is there is now very little between the two.

For those interested. Illex remains the preferred quality species over Pacific but look out for a few tricks being played by packers some of whom are packing U/7 (5+ pieces per kg), as U/5 (3-4 pieces per kg)

And dare I mention 650g weights being packed as 700g? Surly not!

These falling prices in Raw Material have of course had their ripple effect on various other Squid based products. You will have seen steady decreases in the last year on products such as our ‘Dismagel’ Battered Squid Rings.

Quality New Zealand alternatives for native White fish shortages

Holmes Seafoods continues to strengthen its ties with New Zealand Seafood Packers.

As well as importing large quantities of Mussel Products, Holmes is one of the largest UK importers of ‘Stargazer’ (previously known as New Zealand Monk), Fillets and Tails.

Also from these clear, well managed abundant waters we are now offering a range of top quality skinless, Skate wings, IQF Dog fish backs, Oreo Dory Fillets and Smoked Eel fillets.

To add to these 2007 will see the introduction as standard lines of:-

New Zealand Whole Soles and New Zealand whole Turbot.

Holmes Seafoods become nominated UK distributor for ‘Epic’ & ‘Neptun’ brands.

From the 1^st of March the sought after quality ‘Neptun & Epic’ branded seafood range will be available exclusively through Holmes Seafoods

The two Companies have entered into a trading agreement to expand the distribution of this exciting range of products and to combat ever increasing distribution costs from European hauliers.

Rising costs would have meant minimum orders to the UK being increased from 2 to 3 pallets.

The new agreement means that customers can now purchase any products from the range as part of a mixed orders.

Pallet & multi-pallet orders will of course continue and the pricing structures will reflect volume.

The two Companies have worked very closely over the past years with some of the ‘Neptun & Epic’ range always figuring highly Holmes Product List; however we are delighted to have secured this new relationship that will allow the introduction and development of many more top quality seafood lines to our Customers.

All in all as I say, pretty dam exciting times ahead!

I hope you will join us.

Best regards

Chris Holmes