A north Dublin seafood business is set for significant expansion and increased staffing levels following a €160,000 investment grant-aided under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.
The award-winning Kish Fish, based in Howth, is planning to increase the variety and volume of its popular ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products with an upgraded and more energy efficient production facility thanks to the investment.
The project cost over €160,000 of which almost €70,000 was grant aided under the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme recommended by the Seafood Taskforce established by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. and implemented by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). The scheme is funded by the European Union under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.
“We realised a few years ago that our existing production facility which launched Kish Fish into the area of value-added production had served its purpose. It was too small. We were constrained in our plans to develop and increase the volume and variety of ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat seafood products for which there was more demand after Covid.” said Tadgh O’Meara, one of two brothers running the business.
“The investment supported a combination of plant and equipment upgrading, staff upskilling and recruitment and internal construction changes. It allows for production of higher volumes of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food.” said Tadgh. “The new production facility includes a seafood dicing machine which will be a gamechanger, allowing us produce a higher volume of value-added products, directly appealing to food services and hospitality customers.”
Because of the new facilities Kish Fish has increased its capacity of fish cake production by 20% a week. It has also doubled the production of seafood chowder by 50% per day.
“The increase in production of ready-made convenience meals will expand our customer base within our own retail outlets, and through our high-volume customers. Building on our existing smokehouse capability, we will shift the focus away from the stalwart products such as salmon and cod to new high value products.”
“Being able to supply more prepared fresh food will help our hospitality customers overcome challenges they face including staff and skills shortages.”
The new development also means Kish Fish operations are more energy efficient and sustainable with off peak power usage options and environmentally friendly packaging.
It will allow for better use of raw material, focusing on increasing the value extracted and reducing the level of waste.
A family affair Kish Fish, which got its name from the Kish Lighthouse, was founded by the O’Meara’s dad, Tadgh Snr and Danny Hughes in 1966 when they first began selling whole fish in the Dublin Fish-market. Brothers Tadgh, Bill and Damian took over the business in the 1990’s but sadly Bill passed away in 2022.
Brothers Tadgh and Damian O’Meara, Kish Fish, Howth, Co. Dublin with Pamela Bueno and Orla O Neill.
It opened its first retail shop in Bow St, Dublin, in 1989 and in 2007 a purpose-built facility was built in Coolock to meet growing demand. This was followed by a new factory shop in Coolock a year later. The business further expanded in 2016 when it acquired a smokehouse and a third retail shop on Howth’s west pier. A year later, in partnership with Avoca, it opened a seafood counter in Dunboyne.
As well as its four popular fish shops serving up the freshest of seafood daily by a team of professional fishmongers, there is a production facility, the Baily & Kish smokehouse, an online shop, and the Baily Bites at Kish food truck, located on the West Pier in Howth.
“From small beginnings we are proud that today Kish Fish supplies hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and other food service outlets all over the country with top quality seafood.” said Tadgh O’Meara.
“We are a progressive seafood supplier. Our primary aim is to supply the highest quality seafood at competitive prices. We work with an extensive list of trusted partners who supply the best quality fish and shellfish from around Ireland’s coastline and beyond. Kish Fish also hopes to increase staff numbers recruiting new employees at all levels including specialists, operatives and chefs bringing jobs to the local economy while playing its part in carrying on the long legacy and heritage of fishing in Howth”,
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