Profiles

Scottish Skippers Scheme

The Peach Pub Company is a privately owned chain of 7 pubs, based around the Midlands. The Company has a strong belief in buying the most ethically sourced and best quality produce, and working with suppliers that are passionate about their business.

M&J Seafood, the UK’s leading seafood supplier to the foodservice sector, are one of the Peach Pub Company’s fish suppliers and as such their passion became M&J’s challenge. Peach founder Lee Cash wanted to be sure M&J supplied his pubs with fish and seafood that meets the company’s principals. They’d come to the right people as M&J are committed to working to help create a responsible foodservice sector.

The timing was perfect - M&J’s Director of Fish & Seafood, Mike Berthet, was already working with Libby Woodhatch, CEO of Seafood Scotland on a project whereby Responsible Fishing Scheme accredited Scottish vessels could reserve the freshest catch - from their last day at sea - on ice for M&J. This allowed M&J, and therefore Peach’s Pubs, to provide a sustainably caught, premium quality product, with full provenance and traceability from the boat to the chef.

Branded ‘Scottish Skippers’, we trialled the fish from the initiative with one pub initially – The Fishes in Hinksey, Oxford. Chef Corin Earland and his guests found the quality superb and the ‘story’ behind the sourcing a great talking point. That story was told by producing informative table cards that explained how the scheme worked and introduced the skippers involved. Additionally it was felt important to ensure the front of house staff were well briefed to be able to talk about the scheme. Peach and M&J feel the initiative and these front of house activities help to develop customers interest and improve their dining experience, while enhancing both the companies’ brand and addressing their ethical principles.

Another part of the Peach ethos is offering their guests events where they meet the suppliers who catch, grow or rear the produce served. So with the scheme now ready to roll out across the Peach group, everyone involved descended on The Fishes for a ‘meet the fishermen evening’. Fishermen James West and Peter Bruce, together with Libby, Mike and Lee talked about how the fish was caught, the challenges involved and the importance of sustainability. A full house of 70 guests – including Peach fan Raymond Blanc and press from Pub Chef and The Oxford Mail - then got to eat the superb fish whilst talking to the fishermen who had caught it - brilliant!

Getting the Scottish Skippers Scheme working and meeting the Peach challenge to provide the most ethical and best quality produce was no mean feat, but to see the end result gave everyone involved a great sense of achievement. Following this success, M&J are now working with other fishermen and organisations around the UK to set up similar arrangements to be launched under the British Skippers Scheme brand – look out for it at a pub or restaurant near you!

- Contributed by James Bristow, M&J Seafood Marketing Manager

The Responsible Fishing Scheme has been developed by the Sea Fish Industry Authority to raise standards in the catching sector. The Responsible Fishing Scheme was created in response to the needs of the seafood supply chain to demonstrate their commitment to the responsible sourcing of seafood. The aim is that over time it will become a condition of supply.

Posted December 23, 2008

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