One of Scotland’s oldest fishing and processing organisations was given the Royal stamp of approval yesterday (Monday 10 July) when the £3.1million expansion of RR Spink & Sons facility in Arbroath was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal.
The company, which is part of Dawnfresh Seafoods, one of the UK’s largest processors of seafood, uses mainly Scottish fish, including trout from Dawnfresh’s own farms in Argyll, to deliver the highest quality of products for top bluechip retailers such as M&S and Sainsbury. RR. Spink hold the Royal Warrant as Fishmongers to Her Majesty The Queen.
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The Princess Royal met with Dawnfresh Directors and local dignitaries before being shown around the facility by Alastair Salvesen CBE, Chair of Dawnfresh, who described the different processes which take place at the site to produce the highest quality smoked fish.
During her visit, The Princess Royal witnessed how products were made, from the arrival of the ingredients to the finished product being despatched to supermarkets and other outlets across the UK. She also learned how the company guarantee the quality of all products as well ensuring the highest possible safety and food hygiene standards during production.
Commenting after the visit Alastair Salvesen CBE, Chair of Dawnfresh, said: “High quality seafood is something for which Scotland is famous around the world. RR. Spink have been part of that story for more than 300 years and at Dawnfresh we are very aware of the responsibility this history brings. We are already one of the largest employers in Arbroath and this expansion and modernisation of the site has raised our facilities and equipment to a very high standard. This and our determination to the training all our employees, will enable us to grow our business significantly for the next 300 years.”
“We are very proud that RR. Spink holds a Royal Warrant as fishmongers to HM The Queen and are grateful that Her Royal Highness, who has just become the Prime Warden of The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, has come to see for herself how the fish we supply to Her Majesty and her guests is sourced, prepared, processed and packed to the highest standards. We hope that she enjoyed her visit.”
