Keohane Seafoods supplies packaged salmon darnes to 120 Lidl stores across the UK.
In a press release, Marine Marine Charlie McConalogue has announced EUR 4.8 million in new investment by eight seafood processing companies, with his department’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme (EMFF) providing more than €1.4 million in grants.
Cork-based Keohane Seafoods will receive EUR 1.7 million to upgrade its salmon processing equipment and factory reconfiguration.
Announcing the grants, Minister McConalogue said 2020 “has been a difficult year for our seafood sector, as it has for our economy as a whole.
“Although the processing sector continues to face challenges, with the pandemic continuing to impact on world markets and uncertainties and risks around the ongoing trade negotiations with the UK, there are also many opportunities to continue to develop and prosper, as companies adapt and innovate to unlock the market opportunities that are available for quality Irish seafood products,” said McConalogue.
The West Cork Times reported that in 2016 that family-owned Keohane Seafoods landed a EUR 6 million deal to supply packaged salmon darnes to 120 Lidl stores across the UK. The deal, facilitated due to their relationship with Lidl Ireland, enabled packaged fish to go from West Cork, to depots in Bridgend, Weston Super Mare and Enfield.
A spokeperson from Keohane Seafoods told SalmonBusiness that the Lidl deal is still ongoing.
