Northern Irish Rooney oysters proving major export success

Rooney Fish, Northern Ireland's leading seafood business, has enjoyed a significant rise in sales of its oysters since gaining a listing in the UK Guild of Fine Food's Top 50 Foods.

The family-owned business, which is based at Kilkeel in county Down, Northern Ireland's principal fishing port, is now shipping most of the oysters from its own farm in the pristine waters of Carlingford Lough to customers in France. The success makes Rooney Fish one of the biggest exporters of fresh oysters from Ireland to France.

Rooney Fish also gained three stars from the UK Great Taste Awards last year for its oysters.

Andrew Rooney, commercial director of Rooney Fish, says: "Interest in our own oysters, which are farmed at Mill Bay on Carlingford, among the cleanest stretches of water in Europe, is growing rapidly and has undoubtedly been influenced by our success in the Great Taste Awards last year, the first time we had entered this important competition.

"The recognition as a premium producer by expert judges has helped us enormously in expanding our business in France, a key market for our oysters. The development of oysters is an example of our strategic focus on innovation.

"The oyster farm represents a major step for us from processing seafood that we buy into growing our own supply for sale abroad.

"Our experience of the seafood market in France and contacts there encouraged us to explore opportunities to supply oysters. We took a decision about this further diversification of our business a few years ago.

"This involved developing our own oyster farm at Mill Bay on the lough. The sheltered Mill Bay is ideal for oysters, which we growing using the traditional method of bags attached to trestles on the lough's lower shoreline.

"We carried out extensive market research, including participation in major international trade shows, before deciding on what is an immensely important diversification for the company. We also visited oyster farms in France and Ireland to increase our knowledge of how best to grow oysters. They were all supportive.

"We've invested, for instance, in state-of-the-art deputation equipment and techniques for treatment of oysters and other shellfish, enabling us to supply fresh oysters to customers here and abroad. Our system is unique in Ireland and offers substantial benefits to our customers.

"Innovation for markets beyond the UK and Ireland is the only way to grow the business. It's the very lifeblood of our company. This means spending time at shows and visiting both existing and potential customers on a regular basis. "We can never forget that we are operating in a fiercely competitive business sector. You can never rest on your laurels in the fishing industry.

"As a result of our focus on global markets, we now export around 98 per cent of our output, such as oysters, langoustines, brown crab, crab claws and whelks, throughout Asia. Some of our products even turn up in sushi bars in Japan. Our lobsters and scallops also go to European customers," he adds.

Established in 1975, Rooney Fish employs around 40 people and now exports a broad range of fish and seafood internationally.

The company's main plant is located at quayside in Kilkeel and thereby ensures easy access to the freshest seafood. It's modern and fully EC approved and equipped with the most up-to-date technology including blast freezing, nitrogen freezing cooking facilities and extensive storage space.

Rooney Fish is a forward thinking business that's never been afraid to invest in new ideas for export, the latest being oysters, in the most modern processing facilities and the skills of its people. It's a locally owned business with a superb track record of success abroad and in the development of innovative products and techniques.