The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) said yesterday it was looking to its new Native Hebridean range to help it achieve long-term growth targets
SSC, which employs about 230 people on its Hebridean fish farms and about 450 in all, launched the range at the Seafood Expo global trade show in Brussels last month.
Announcing first quarter results yesterday, the Edinburgh-based firm said the new products were the result of several years of research and development to produced salmon with “unique lineage and full traceability”.
Bred from stock sourced directly from the waters off North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, the fish is said to have greater muscle density than is found in other farmed salmon.
SSC said revenue for the first three months of 2016 came in at £29.1million, up from £27.3million a year ago, in a “solid start” to the year.
Harvested volumes grew to 6,741tonnes, from 6,261 previously, with a further 2,000 due to become operational this year.
But first quarter operating profits slid to £4.2million, from £6.5million a year ago, in a challenging market.
Managing director Craig Anderson said: “There were fewer external factors impacting on harvesting this quarter and the majority of sites met their projected yield.
“With strong prices forecast for the rest of the year and growing consumer demand, we are well-placed to meet our growth targets.
“Provenance remains at the heart of our business and we have ambitious plans for our exclusive new Native Hebridean Salmon range.”