Seafood processor doubles jobs with investment

28-Aug-2014 - Last updated on 23-Jul-2024 at 13:14 GMT

More than 1,500 crabs are processed at the site each day

Jonas Seafood will treble its turnover this year to more than £2M after £210,000 was pumped into the business last year, md Kevin Jonas has said.

The Norfolk-based crab and lobster processor received the financial package from HSBC, which allowed the company to open a new 929m² £500,000 factory and a purpose-built shop in Cromer.

Jobs at the site had also more than doubled to 52 this year from 20 last year, as a result of the investment, said Jonas.

Cromer Crab Company

Jonas Seafood sought investment following the closure of Young’s Seafood’s Cromer Crab Company factory two years ago, which eliminated competition in the area, he added.

“We took over the Cromer Crab site and took on some of the staff they let go too,” Jonas told FoodManufacture.co.uk.

In 2012, Jonas pumped just under half a million pounds of private capital into the business, which was followed by a £40,000 grant from the Marine Management Organisation.

Now more than 1,500 dressed crabs are processed at the site each day, as well as 70,000 lobsters each year, which are supplied to 15,000 restaurants and retailers across the UK, he added.

Major contracts

The company, which was established in 1995, has major contracts to supply dressed crab to businesses such as M&J Seafood, Musgraves and Waitrose, Jonas added.

“We’re also in talks with a couple of other businesses at the moment, but I can’t disclose any details,” he said.

James Howlett, area commercial director at HSBC’s Norfolk and Waveney Commercial Centre, said: “HSBC has been impressed by Jonas Seafood’s ability to take advantage of the favourable economic conditions and successfully embrace business growth opportunities for the renowned Cormer crab and lobster.

'Impressive reputation'

“We are delighted that the HSBC finance facility has allowed the company to build on its impressive reputation.”

Jonas Seafoods took over the Young’s Seafood-owned Cromer Crab Company after it moved production to Grimsby in August 2012.

More than 200 staff worked at the site during its heyday and there was a high-profile campaign, supported by celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Alan Titchmarsh, to keep the business in the area.

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