produits de la mer - n°192 - Mai 2019 - 44

News ❘ ZOOM ON... IRELAND

❘ 44 ❘

PRODUITS DE LA MER N°192 MAI 2019

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ÉCH S d'ENTREPRISES
Bantry Bay Premium Seafoods
est sur la bonne pente

B.V
.

Relancée il y a deux ans avec deux
actionnaires mytiliculteurs, Patrick et Brian
(en photo ci-dessous) Murmane, Bantry Bay
Premium Seafoods mise sur la production
de moules cuites surgelées en grande
distribution, auprès des grossistes et des
industries alimentaires. Son atout maître est
l'approvisionnement par sa propre ferme
qui élève 1 300 tonnes de moules de corde
sur deux sites dont 70 % vendues en bio.
L'unité de transformation dispose de deux
lignes de production, dont une en réserve lors
des pics d'activité. De 2 000 tonnes traitées cette année,
en comptant les apports voisins, l'entreprise vise les 4 500 tonnes
d'ici cinq ans. « L'objectif est d'être autonome à 60 % avec nos moules et d'investir
ensuite dans une nouvelle usine », espère Damian Collony, responsable des ventes.
L'entreprise, certifiée BRC grade A, concentre ses efforts sur la qualité du process.
À commencer par le tri, « le plus possible en mer, puis un second tri manuel s'effectue ici
pour éliminer les moules abîmées. Les plus petites repartent à l'eau », souligne Damian
Collony. Après une étape de repos en bain suivie du débyssussage, deux types de cuisson
sont possibles : la vapeur permet un meilleur contrôle en sous-vide, le procédé classique
s'applique au vrac IQF destiné aux industriels. Les moules sous vide au naturel ou en
sauce passent au blast freezer avant conditionnement final en étui cartonné.

Bantry Bay Premium Seafoods on an upward trend
Relaunched two years ago by two shareholders and mussel farmers, Patrick and Brian (on
the picture) Murmane, Bantry Bay Premium Seafoods banks on the production of cooked frozen mussels for supermarket
supermarkets, wholesalers and food processing companies. Its main asset
is a supply coming from its own farm which produces 1,300 tons of rope-grown
mussels on two sites of which 70% is sold as organic. The processing unit
comprises two p
production lines, one of which is reserved for peaks in activity.
With 2,000 ton
2,000 tons processed this year, including supplies from neighbouring
companies, the firm aims at 4,500 tons within five years. "The goal is to be
60% self
self-sufficient with our mussel farm and then invest in a new plant,"
declares the sales manager Damian Collony.
The company, BRC grade A certified, gives priority to the
quality of the process. Starting with sorting: "Done at sea as
much as possible, a second manual sorting is realized here
to eliminate damaged mussels. The smaller ones go back
to sea," Damian Collony explains. After a resting phase
in a tank followed by the removal of byssus, two types of
cooking processes are available: steaming permits better
control under vacuum, the conventional method applies
to IQF mussels in bulk for manufacturers. Under-vacuum
mussels, plain or in a sauce, are put into the blast freezer
before final packing in a cardboard case.
B.V.

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ike all other European Union member countries involved in seafood
trade as a supplier or consumer,
the green Erin has a ringside seat
in relation to Brexit. Because of its proximity to British waters and the great number
of its exports passing through the United
Kingdom. With such an unforeseen context in dealing with a close neighbour suddenly turning into a third country, Ireland
relies on its own strengths to develop its
aquatic product sectors. The country is
rich in assets. In 2017, the seafood product business exceeded one billion euros as
regards trade, the domestic market and
public and private investments. Far from
being as substantial as agriculture, Irish fisheries and aquaculture - valued at 609 million euros - are regarded as a key resource
by the authorities.
The official strategy is to position the
country as a leader in high-end marine
products on the world market, by means
of key products such as shellfish, oysters
or organic salmon. Pelagic fish is not outdone: mackerel, blue whiting, horse mackerel, whose market value is lower, still carry
weight in terms of volume and value. On
an upward trend of 20% from 2016, total
seafood exports peaked at nearly 679 million euros in 2017. France is the largest buyer's market, followed up until now by the
United Kingdom, Spain or Italy. These key
outlets could, however, be subject to significant logistical changes as a result of the
choice of the British. Which could encourage Irish export companies to diversify their
exterior outlets.
Among Ireland's outlets, the Chinese
market already ranks seventh and is experiencing a double-digit growth. Japan and
South Korea are also growing rapidly, along
with other solvent markets such as Saudi
Arabia, Australia and the United States.
The other target area is the development of the domestic market with which
Irish processing companies are getting to
grips, with the assistance of the Seafood
Innovation Hub (SIH). With its headquarter in Clonakilty, County Cork, SIH is one
of the cornerstones of the Bord Iascaigh
Mhara (BIM) - Ireland's seafood development agency - strategy to improve the performance of the processing industry.
Whatever the targetted market, the
objective is to add value to the products in
coastal areas where some 14,700 jobs are
dependent on the fishing sector. The Food
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produits de la mer - n°192 - Mai 2019

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