A spokesman for the firm told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “We’re delighted. This week, we gained a national listing for 700 Tesco stores for our Whitby Seafoods Scampi.”
Graham Whittle, owner of Whitby Seafood said: “We are proud to have worked together with Tesco and that this relationship has blossomed into a national distribution. This is a very exciting opportunity for us to take our Whitby Scampi national with Tesco. Now people across the country will get to understand that Whitby Scampi stands for great quality and a taste of the seaside.”
Whitby Seafoods first met Tesco in May 2009 at the North East 'Meet the Buyer' event in Leeds. The result was a contract for Whitby Scampi to supply Tesco stores across Yorkshire. A year later Tesco increased the range to include Whitby Seafood Fishcakes and Breaded Prawns.
Caroline Bartrop, Tesco’s regional marketing manager for the North and East of England said: “Whitby Scampi has been so popular in Yorkshire and it has such a great British heritage that we knew we had to take this great local line nationwide.
Scampi Camper
“The rate of sale of the product was so high in local stores that we knew it was more than worthy of extending nationally. Since then, to help grow their business, we have worked closely with them on some fantastic promotions and sampling activity using its (promotional vehicle) Scampi Camper to raise awareness in store car parks and with money off coupons.”
Whitby Seafoods was founded in 1985 by Graham Whittle from the assets of the Whitby Shellfish company. Founded in 1963, the Whitby Shellfish Company was one of the first firms to sell breaded scampi in the UK. Graham still runs the business together with his daughter Laura and his son’s Edward and Daniel.
The firm began selling scampi to local restaurants and pubs but soon began supplying other outlets. The firm is now the largest employer in Whitby, employing 130 people in the region.
UK fishermen
Whitby Seafoods products are coated, frozen and packed in Whitby. All its scampi is caught in UK waters by UK fishermen.
In recent years, Whitby Seafoods has grown by acquisition. In 2007, the company acquired Middleton Seafoods, based in Northern Ireland, for an undisclosed sum.
Meanwhile, Tesco has five regional buying offices, in Scotland, Wales, North and East of England, South of England and Northern Ireland. It often runs regional 'meet the buyer' events to form contacts with new suppliers.