Experiencing the Frozen at Sea Process First-Hand

There’s nothing quite like seeing expertise in action and recently, our staff had the unique opportunity to do just that, stepping aboard the legendary Kirkella vessel while she was docked in Hull. As a company deeply rooted in supplying fish and chip shops across the UK with only the best products, we know that truly understanding every step of our supply chain is essential. Our visit to Kirkella offered a rare glimpse into the intricate, world-class process behind Frozen At Sea (FAS) fish—an experience that left us both inspired and better equipped to serve our customers.

The Kirkella: A Floating Factory of Freshness

Our day began with a tour of the Kirkella itself, an impressive sight and a marvel of modern fishing technology. The vessel serves as a floating factory, designed to catch, fillet, pack, and freeze fish—all within two hours of the catch first hitting the deck. Witnessing this process up close truly highlighted the remarkable efficiency and dedication required to produce the highest-quality frozen at sea products.

From the moment the fish are landed, every step is precisely coordinated: the catch is swiftly filleted, carefully packed, then rapidly frozen and stored. This ensures that the fish maintain their freshness, texture, and taste, preserving them at the very peak of quality, a crucial factor for the fish and chip shops who rely on our products to deliver classic British flavours.

During the event, attendees were treated to a delightful three-course lunch prepared by the chef on board. The meal began with a classic prawn cocktail starter, followed by a hearty serving of good ol’ fish and chips for the main course. To finish, everyone enjoyed a delicious strawberry cheesecake for pudding.

Why Frozen At Sea Matters

Frozen at sea products form a huge part of our company’s offering, supplying the majority of UK fish and chip shops with a popular and reliable option. Our customers trust us to provide fish that tastes as though it was just pulled from the waves and thanks to the FAS process, that’s exactly what they get.

But understanding the process doesn’t just improve our product knowledge; it empowers our team. When we’re able to see first-hand the journey from ocean to plate, we gain valuable insights into each stage, equipping us to answer customer queries, resolve issues more efficiently, and communicate with greater confidence about the quality and provenance of our fish.

Meet the Team Behind the Visit

We were proud to send a diverse group of staff members, each bringing their own expertise and curiosity to the tour:

Naomi Hodgson – Head of Supply Chain
Antony Elvin – Seafood Trader
Adam Fanthorpe – Head of Fresh Fish & Development
Andre Howie – Fish & Chip Sales Manager
Ashley Blake – Fish & Chip Sales Executive
Julie Grant – Processing Coordinator
Tony Osborne – Managing Director of FAS2000

Reflections from the Day

We asked our Fish & Chip Sales Manager, Andre Howie, to share his thoughts on the visit:

“To view the Kirkella was a good day of educational information that can help us when working within the industry, to be able to fully understand and to then be able to explain how things are done when offering FAS products out to our customers. It also helps when we have issues (wrong sizes in boxes for example) as we can see how they sometimes happen meaning we can explain to customers far better!

I’m so grateful to be able to take part in visits like this, the effort companies like FASFA & Great British Fish – Kirkella are going to, to educate people is really inspiring to keep our industry knowledge alive.”

Andre’s words sum up the spirit of the visit perfectly: education, transparency, and a passion for excellence. Seeing the process in person not only answers our own questions, but also enhances our ability to support our customers, whether it’s explaining the occasional quirks of sizing or celebrating the quality of each fillet.

Continuing Our Commitment to Quality

Visits like these reaffirm our commitment to quality, traceability, and education. By engaging directly with vessels like Kirkella, we ensure that our knowledge stays current, and our standards remain high. Most importantly, we return from these experiences inspired to keep connecting British fish and chip shops – and their loyal customers – with the freshest, finest fish the sea has to offer.

We’d like to extend our thanks to the crew of Kirkella and FASFA (Frozen at Sea Fillets Association) for welcoming us aboard and helping keep the tradition and quality of the British fish supper alive for generations to come.