Fish firm nets a helping hand from Lancashire supermarket group

Family owned Northern food retailer Booths said it was continuing to support its suppliers struggling to cope with the loss of food service markets during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Following its ongoing campaign to support British Artisan cheesemakers, Booths has extended a helping hand to Fleetwood based My Fish Company, run by Gary Apps.

The closure of restaurants, pubs, cafes and hotels has affected many businesses that supply Booths across the Northwest and beyond.

Gary Apps from My Fish Company said: “This is a lifechanging event, overnight 75 per cent of our business went to sleep as 400 food service customers across the Northwest closed their doors.

“There’s so much uncertainty, while some businesses may reopen, there are many that will not.

“We’re looking at an enormous about of unpaid debt currently and that’s a challenge to recover from for a small business like ours.”

When Booths learned of Gary’s situation, buyer Tom Hargreaves contacted Gary asked what could be done to support them.

Gary said: “When Booths called me, it was that sort of call that hits you in the chest. The thought that another business would support us when the chips were down with such humility and integrity, it really meant the world to me.

“Booths has a caring and respectful ethos that is spread throughout the business and it flows from the top down.”

To help support Gary, Booths have funded a number of special offers in store, directing customers to support My Fish Company by buying more fish.

The campaign will run through all 28 stores and will be supported through social media, advertising and press support featuring recipes and live cooking demos on social media. Booths COO, Nigel Murray said: “Supporting our extended Booths family of suppliers is vitally important.

“These are very often owner operated businesses and like My Fish are special because they passionately care about the food they produce.

“They are a vital ingredient in what makes Booths special.

“If we can give our customers better value and an additional incentive to support these key supplier partners, we can and will make a difference.”