Shoppers across the UK will be treated to promotional offers and discounts on seafood products, making Seafood Week the perfect time to get back into the habit of buying fish – or try a new species.
A “What’s On” seafood map of the UK has been created by organisers Seafish which tells shoppers and restaurant-goers which deals are available in their area – and which businesses have signed up to be involved in Seafood Week.
Among the big names to be supporting Seafood Week and offering special deals are supermarket giants Morrisons and The Co-operative, alongside famous brands Birdseye, The Saucy Fish Company, and Whitby Seafoods.
All offers for Seafood Week can be viewed on the seafood map on www.seafoodweek.co.uk and in the Seafood Week Spotlights section, with further details to be found in stores.
The campaign to encourage more people to eat more fish more often will be even bigger and better than last year with a full programme of education events in schools, colleges and supermarkets, teaching children and adults of all ages about the joys and health benefits of eating seafood.
Seafood Week kicks off on Friday, October 7, with the return of Fish Pun Day. Major brands will battle it out in pun-offs, there will be a range of competitions, and the public will be encouraged to get involved too, by using the hashtag #fishpunday on Twitter and Facebook.
It is the second year that Seafish has held the event as part of Seafood Week, with last year’s Fish Pun Day leading to world-famous brands getting involved as social media became awash with hilarious fish puns.
On the eve of Seafood Week (Thursday 6 October), Seafish hosted a launch event of a new recipe book created in collaboration with seafood businesses entitled Recipes from Yorkshire and Humber. The launch will be held at The Grimsby Institute.
In Ballywalter Park, County Down, there will be a two-day seafood event as part of Northern Ireland’s Year of Food & Drink, with renowned food critic, Charles Campion, and chef-director of Balloo Inns, Danny Millar, in attendance.
The Loaves and the Fishes event programme includes master classes in local seafood cuisine and traditional bread making delivered by chefs of international repute. This unique event, held on Sunday 9 and Monday 10 October, is aimed at both catering professionals and the public and will also provide an opportunity to meet with thirty two of our best local artisan producers, watch world class chefs at work and take tours of the Walled Garden at Ballywalter.
On Monday, students from colleges across Northern Ireland will compete in a Student Seafood Masterchef Competition, judged by Charles Campion of Masterchef fame.
Continuing the cookery competition theme, there will be a cook off between Gr?p Llandrillo Menai colleges in North Wales on Thursday 13 October. The competition will utilise key local commercial species provided by local businesses. A Welsh Government-led event is also behind held in Cardiff, showcasing the best of Welsh seafood and launching an industry-led ‘Sustainable Seafood Strategy’, which has been developed by the Seafish Wales Advisory Committee (SWAC).
There will also be school events across the country with seafood experts introducing school children to fish and shellfish in the classroom.
Seafood Week was reintroduced in 2015 following a seven year hiatus and has successfully developed partnerships with major supermarkets Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, The Co-operative, Iceland and M&S, alongside famous seafood brands Young’s Seafood, Birdseye, Whitby Seafoods and the SaucyFish Co. Seafood Week 2015 was hailed as a major success with The Co-operative announcing a double-digit sales increase during the period, and independent analysis evaluating the campaign as worth up to £18 million to the industry, leading to Seafish winning a series of awards as a result of last year’s campaign.
Seafish Marketing Manager Heather Middleton said: “Seafood Week is back and it’s going to be even bigger and better than last year. We have a range of events taking place across the UK which will remind people of the great taste of seafood and the wonderful variety we have on our doorstep.
“Seafood Week is a celebration of fish and the seafood industry and I’d like to encourage all lovers of fish and shellfish to get involved by buying some fish when you’re out shopping for food, or order a fish dish when you’re out for a meal or takeaway.
“And don’t forget to take part in #fishpunday!”
Yvonne Adam, Marketing Director of Young’s Seafood Limited, said: “Fish is such a great source of protein, with so many health benefits, and it is great to come together to celebrate seafood. Our mission is to inspire people to love fish now and for generations to come. Seafood Week is an excellent opportunity to do just that by highlighting the wide variety of delicious recipes and species there are to enjoy.”
