Seachill sale: union seeks assurance over 750 jobs

Seachill owner Icelandic Group revealed its decision to sell the business on Friday (April 21). “Seachill is a leading supplier of chilled fish to the UK retail market. The company has a strong position in its category, offering a total solution to its customers,”​ said the parent company on its website.

Founded in 1998, the business has grown to be one of the UK’s largest chilled fish processors, with what the owner claimed were “well-invested facilities and an established supply chain”.​

The sale included The Saucy Fish Co, which earlier this year entered the frozen retail category.

Revenues totalled £266.3M​

Last year Seachill´s revenues totalled £266.3M. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amoritisation reached (EBITDA) £10.4M.

One of Grimby’s largest employers, the seafood company employs 750 people.

Unite – which has about 180 members at Seachill, mainly working in production roles at two sites – has requested an urgent meeting with the management of Icelandic Seachill.

‘Future job security’​

Unite regional officer Mike Wilkinson said: “We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the management in regards to the future job security of our members and to understand the rationale behind the sale of the company.​

“We understand that the company has had a significant improvement in sales recently, so why has the business been put up for sale? We will require an answer to that question.”​

The union said it was a worrying and uncertain time for firm’s workforce and pledged to give members “the union’s maximum support in the days and weeks ahead”.​

Icelandic Group operates three UK manufacturing plants and a sales and marketing division under the name Icelandic Seachill.