Glenarm Salmon deal a “confidence boost for local economy”

News that salmon from Glenarm will soon be served in some of Hong Kong's top hotels comes as a “confidence boost for the local economy” according to Larne’s Deputy Mayor.

Speaking after the announcement was made at the Food Hotel China exhibition, Cllr Mark McKinty welcomed the news and its repercussions within the local economy: “I congratulate all the staff at Glenarm Organic Salmon, and those members of the Executive delegation to China for securing this important deal for local business.

Glenarm Organic Salmon, established in 1989, is the only Atlantic salmon producer in the Irish Sea and Northern Ireland’s only salmon farming business, recently named Best Agriculture and Rural Business in the 2012 Larne Business Awards. The company produces over 500 tonnes of organic salmon each year which is distributed throughout the UK and overseas markets. This latest deal will see it export its fresh salmon to China for the first time and will add to its existing Asian custom in Singapore and Thailand.

John Russell, Glenarm Organic Salmon Managing Director, said: “The business that we are developing in Hong Kong will give us an important foothold for growth in China, an increasingly affluent market with a rapidly growing middle class with an interest in quality food from European suppliers. It’s a market that we’ve targeted for fast growth during 2013.

“The interest that we are now attracting from high-end hotels in China carries forward our existing business in other parts of Asia such as Singapore and Thailand, markets which we have been shipping fresh salmon to since 2008.

“What sets our fresh salmon apart from competitors is fantastic quality that comes from our fish farm location in the cold, tidal waters of the Irish Sea. This environment produces a highly textured and delicious fish. Foodservice operators worldwide are now recognising the quality of salmon that we produce in Glenarm. We expect our sales in Hong Kong and mainland China to grow steadily over the next 12 months and beyond,” he added. 

Cllr Mark McKinty also praised the hard work by Glenarm Organic Salmon and Invest NI in forging these trade links: “In difficult economic times, it is important that small and medium businesses are encouraged to explore expansion and diversification opportunities both at home and abroad. I am confident that Glenarm Organic Salmon’s exposure in China is only the start of further important trade links which will benefit local indigenous businesses in Northern Ireland.”