Loch Fyne Products
Many years ago, we reluctantly but advisedly stopped buying wild salmon for the simple reason that it is now an endangered species. Every time a media food writer rhapsodises about eating wild salmon, we collectively beat our heads. Great idea. Why not offer your guests seared blue whale steaks and confit of tiger to follow. Read more about our salmon products...
Our oysters are grown naturally, on the shore at Ardkinglas at the head of Loch Fyne, and by our partner growers in Argyll and the Islands. Read more about our oyster products...
Our mussels are reared on ropes near the loch’s headwaters at Ardkinglas, and by our partner growers in Argyll, the Islands and Shetland. The prime season at Ardkinglas runs from October to May, after which the mussel meat shrinks after spawning and does not fully recover until the Autumn. Further out to sea in the Gulf Stream, recovery time after spawning is much quicker. This allows us to supply really good mussels throughout the summer in most years, until the loch season resumes in the autumn. Read more about our mussel products...
Langoustines:
Our langoustines are landed by local fisherman Ralph Newell, who fishes with creels in the upper reaches of Loch Fyne. Known locally simply as ‘prawns’, the langoustines live in burrows in the hard bed of the loch, at around ten fathoms (c.18.3m) or deeper. Supply is generally consistent and of good size and quality, as the immature crustaceans escape through the mesh of the creels. Read more about our shellfish products...
White Fish
Farmed:
Halibut – Farmed in at Kilmelford near Oban
Cod – Organic Cod farmed in the Shetland Islands by No Catch Cod
Trout – Organic sea trout from the Shetlands, Organic Rainbow trout from the Lake District.
Wild:
Most of our wild fish is landed in Cornwall and the South-West, which has the most diverse fishery in the UK and, crucially, a healthy fleet of small day-boats. The day-boats can do little harm to a fishery and land the freshest fish available. Contrast this with a beam-trawler, trundling its vast nets along the sea-bed for long hauls, and maybe only seeing port every 10 days. Read more about our white fish products...
The same principals that inform our attitude to fish and seafood are applied to the selection of ingredients and product for all the companies trading under the Loch Fyne name. Our cheeses are bought from small, independent producers using traditional methods, our dry goods mainly from family businesses in the UK, and our wines from family vintners throughout the UK and Europe. We make every effort to get to know them all and to share the stories that enrich their superb products. Read more about our meat products...