New partners encouraged to come onboard for 2016

Seafood Week has announced its return for 2016 and, with 122 days to go (6 June), reveals that last year’s campaign was estimated to be worth an incredible £18million to the industry.

The consumer campaign which aims to boost the consumption of seafood in the UK through an eight-day celebration of the industry, made waves in 2015 with more than 80 brands and companies including Young’s, Whitby Seafoods, Yo Sushi! and Loch Fyne all signing up as partners, alongside retailers such as Morrisons, The Co-operative and Aldi.

The Co-operative Food also reported a ‘double-digit’ sales growth in seafood sales following the conclusion of Seafood Week 2015. While it was also announced for every pound spent on Seafood Week 2015 by Seafish, the campaign returned an estimated benefit to the seafood industry of between £25 and £64* of additional retail sales.

Now even more companies are being called upon to come aboard for 2016 – to help make Seafood Week 2016 its most successful year to date, besting the £18 million** estimated worth of last year’s campaign. 

Seafish released the 2015 results with 125 days to go until Seafood Week 2016, which will run from Friday, October 7 to 14, this year.

Mel Groundsell, corporate relations director at Seafish said: "We’re blown away by these results, they clearly show the benefit that Seafood Week has had across the industry.

"Seafood Week is about promoting and celebrating the seafood industry - and encouraging the public to eat more fish more often.

"There are plenty of opportunities for businesses to take part in this year’s campaign and I would like to encourage companies from right across the supply chain to get involved.

"Companies who would like to work with us as partners, or in other capacities, should get in touch with our Seafood Week team through our website www.seafoodweek.co.uk .”

Seafood Week 2016 will begin on Friday, October 7 with the social media event Fish Pun Day, which is a way for companies, brands, and the public to use their Twitter accounts to mark the start of the eight-day celebration by using their best fish puns and the #fishpunday hashtag.

In addition to Fish Pun Day, a different seafood species will be focused upon on each of the eight days, with alternative species also being highlighted to raise awareness of underutilised fish.

Spotlight stories will also highlight different areas of the seafood industry, including interviews with fishmongers, fishermen and the winners of various seafood-related awards held by Seafish. There will also be competitions, special events, a toolkit of marketing materials for companies to use, and a number of Seafood Week events held around the UK.

To become involved in Seafood Week 2016, contact the team by emailing seafoodweek@seafish.co.uk or sign up at www.fishisthedish.co.uk/seafoodweek/my-seafood-week.