Premium supplier joins one of Britain’s largest independent seafood groups amid cost pressures and hospitality headwinds.
Chapmans of Sevenoaks has joined forces with Ocean Fish Group in a new joint venture aimed at consolidating the British seafood supply chain and expanding the companies’ reach in premium hospitality markets.
The deal, announced Monday, marks a strategic move for both businesses. Chapmans, a long-established supplier to top London restaurants, hotels, and events such as Formula 1 and the Chelsea Flower Show, brings strong relationships with fishing fleets across Kent, Sussex, and Essex, along with a refrigerated 10,000-square-foot processing facility near London. Ocean Fish, based in Cornwall, is one of the UK’s largest independent fishing and processing businesses, with end-to-end capabilities from fleet to retail.
Leigh Genge, CEO and shareholder of Ocean Fish, said the venture opens dynamic supply chain opportunities for the group, particularly as inflationary pressures mount for the hospitality sector. “With our existing fishing fleet and processing/procurement expertise, this really can become a dynamic seafood consolidation,” Genge said in a LinkedIn post. “Chapmans should become the supply destination of choice to improve quality, freshness, and reduce inbound cost of goods.”
The partnership enables Chapmans to scale up with increased financial backing while retaining its reputation for premium service and expert fish preparation. Ocean Fish will bring group-wide operational support and global sourcing strength to the business.
Together, the companies aim to offer over 50 species of British fish. The integration of Chapmans’ facility near London is expected to reduce food miles and enhance delivery efficiency, offering chefs a more responsive domestic seafood option.
The joint venture is also framed as an investment in people and place. Both parties emphasised their commitment to preserving traditional skills, supporting coastal communities, and maintaining a small-enough-to-care ethos while growing in scale.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.