Start-up selling US scallops direct into UK

Two businessmen are selling US scallops direct from fishermen into the UK market.

London-based Ocean Fleet Seafood, established last year by Dmitrijus Nikitinas and Kestutis Bruzas, has access to 6 million pounds of US scallops through relationships with fishermen, said Nikitinas.

The company has an operation in Billingsgate fish market in London, where it is packing the scallops for foodservice customers in the UK, Nikitinas told IntraFish.

These contacts with the US fishermen were built when then the two were involved in the acquisition of New Bedford, Massachusetts-based Mar-Lees Seafood -- before Mar-Lees founder John Lees and a private equity group bought the company back.

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