Hawkes Bay Seafoods is a fishing company based in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
About Hawkes Bay Seafoods:
Hawkes Bay Seafoods is a vertically integrated seafood company. By that we mean, Hawkes Bay Seafoods are quota holders, vessel operators, fish exporters and importers, seafood processors, wholesalers and retailers.
Hawkes Bay Seafoods is a privately owned seafood company and its main areas of activity consist of fishing, processing – export and wholesale distribution and retailing through an on-site Napier outlet and a world class outlet in Hastings. Hawkes Bay Seafoods is also a large employer within the Hawkes Bay region, employing a combination of full time, part time and seasonal workers.
The entire operation is based on a site which has close proximity to the wharf, about 300 or 400 metres in fact. On that site is a retail premises, a licensed seafood export packhouse; freezing, chilling and processing rooms; live crayfish storage and administration offices and amenities.
Hawkes Bay Seafoods was established in June 1997, thirteen years ago, when D’Esposito brothers, Nino and Joe identified the potential of a strategically located fish and chip shop. The site also offered room for expansion and the fishing port was extremely close. Furthermore, the current retail business had potential for growth, with little or no competition and little inspiration or incentive to the fishing fleet. Within five years the turnover increased approximatley 6000 percent. In 2007, Hawkes Bay Seafoods won the ANZ, Hawkes Bay Today, Exporter of the year.
The growth of the company was then helped by an accommodating export exchange rate and a recently developed Tuna fishery right on the doorstep of the company. Ultimately however, it was the expertise, knowledge and experience of the D’Esposito brothers in harvesting, processing and marketing inshore species which has resulted in a reputation for supplying consistently high quality, premium fresh seafood. By expertise, knowledge and experience we mean a family tradition that traces back to 1918 when Nino and Joe's Grandfather started fishing in the Cook Strait after he migrated to New Zealand from Italy. Son and nephew Marcus is now continuing the tradition as fourth generation to ensure that expertise, knowledge and experience are guaranteed in the future.
Nino started working in fishing industry fulltime at the age of fifteen. Joe later joined Nino at eighteen years of age in 1979.
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