New products and direct sourcing from IcePak

Yearsley Group’s acquisition adding value for customers

IcePak, the seafood sales division of the Yearsley Group, has launched a trio of new product lines, offering customers a guaranteed supply of three of the most popular products for wholesalers. The 777-branded block cooked and peeled prawns, a range of prepared baby squid and a variety of King Prawns have all been sourced direct from their suppliers in Indonesia and India, following an international product search by IcePak buyers.

Sourcing direct from suppliers overseas will enable IcePak to guarantee not only the availability of stock, but also the quality of product, and that of the logistics and supply chain which utilises Yearsley’s long-established cold storage operation. IcePak is also going direct to source for a number of other products which are already part of the portfolio, providing similar guarantees for tuna, tilapia, pangasius, swordfish and cuttlefish.

Ian King, IcePak Director, explains: “Quality of product and reliability of stock are the two most important elements in our business and we are always looking for ways to make improvements. In the past we were reliant on 3rd parties which caused variations in supply and price and could be frustrating from a customer’s point of view and for us.

“By going direct for the most popular ranges, we can be sure of the provenance of the product and check the suppliers’ own credentials are up to the exacting standards IcePak expects. We can improve the lines of communication to ensure supply and, ultimately, cut out any uncertainty over the delivery of stock by using our own transport and logistics operation. This also allows us to provide customers with price stability and product traceability.”

Since its acquisition by Yearsley’s in January 2011, frozen seafood specialist IcePak has gone from strength to strength. Now fully integrated with Yearsley Group’s IT and management operations, IcePak is also able to take advantage of Yearsley Group’s huge transport and storage network, and has expanded its customer base by offering more than 300 additional product lines to Yearsley Food Sales’ existing customer base.

Ian King added: “One year on from the acquisition, IcePak continues to grow. Not only is IcePak building on its own customer base, it is also offering additional frozen seafood products to Yearsley Food Sales existing clients, providing them with all their frozen food needs.”

• 777 is available in 100/200 to 300/500 prawns per pound
• King Prawns available from 21/25 to 61/70 prawns per pound
• Prepared baby squid is available in 10/20 to 21/40 per pound