Keohane Seafoods investing €1m in innovative equipment

BANTRY-located Keohane Seafoods is expanding its salmon processing operations and mitigating its ecological impact through assistance from the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme.

The company is part of a group of 44 initiatives that will receive a €26.8 million investment from the Seafood Processing Capital Support Scheme, which is managed by BIM. This scheme aims to provide financial support to the seafood processing industry and has a total funding of up to €45 million. The funding for this scheme is provided by the European Union under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.

According to Colman Keohane, the director in charge, the financial assistance is aiding the company in making a substantial €1.2m investment in revolutionary machinery, enabling it to conquer the obstacles brought on by Brexit.

Colman stated that Brexit had a substantial influence on our company in various ways, including the transportation of salmon and the conveyance of completed products. However, the most significant consequence was undoubtedly the downfall of our fresh fish trade in the United Kingdom. This unfortunate outcome was primarily caused by logistical issues that resulted in reduced product lifespan, hampering our ability to cater to the market demand effectively.

Keohane Seafoods has always prioritized creativity and the creation of fresh products. In order to alleviate the consequences of Brexit on our company, we recognized the importance of pursuing alternative international markets and altering our salmon processing methods.

The financial assistance we obtained from the Brexit Seafood Processing Capital Support Scheme has enabled us to allocate funds towards pioneering processing and packaging technologies, thus enhancing the competitiveness and ecological sustainability of our company.

Salmon production has been revolutionized by recent advancements in machinery. These state-of-the-art devices, such as an ingredient blender, pouch-forming packaging machine, salmon cutting machine, and intelligent sorting machine, have greatly reduced waste and boosted overall productivity. Furthermore, the implementation of an upgraded enterprise resource planning software has significantly enhanced the company's operational control and transparency.

Colman stated that with the introduction of the latest pouch thermoformer, we can enhance the production of frozen salmon items by approximately 50%, enabling us to effectively compete in both the frozen markets of the US and Germany. He further mentioned that our infused product range has been highly sought-after for the past year and a half, and this ingenious technology guarantees a uniform quality throughout that specific line of products.

The thermoforming machine is also decreasing our electrical usage while the recently acquired fillet cutter will assist us in reducing the amount of food that goes to waste.

Keohane Seafoods is a family-run enterprise led by Michael Keohane and his two sons, Colman and Brian. The Keohane family started the company in 2010 when they noticed a lack of seafood with enhanced value in the market. With processing facilities located in Bantry and Cork city, the company currently employs a workforce of 230 individuals. Keohane Seafoods primarily focuses on delivering both fresh and frozen seafood to customers in Ireland, as well as catering to the demands of the international retail and foodservice sectors.