Reeling from the fallout of challenges in 2020-21 as the pandemic shut down the hospitality industry and paralysed transport, a North Shields fishcake manufacturer has benefited from an MMO grant that helped diversify .
The £150,000 awarded to Larry’s Fishcakes in 2021 helped reduce the company’s reliance on the wholesale market and adhere to retail regulations allowing them to diversify fully into the retail sector. This was achieved by the purchase of a suite of processing equipment and a refrigerated vehicle. A further £12,000 was awarded in 2023 to support their marketing and promotional activity.
‘The reality is that without FaSS assistance Larry’s Fishcakes would be in a dark place … if indeed here at all,’ said Craig Foster, owner of Larry’s Fishcakes, a family-run business producing scampi, fish fingers and fishcakes.
‘Some of the things we did may not have worked 100%. However, the three to four years’ of projects have been very positive overall, and future-proofed the company. During these unprecedented times, the fact that we are still here and have managed to grow is a testament to my wonderful team, our suppliers, this funding support and our customers. I hope now that we can have a prolonged period of normality.’
These investments have since enabled Larry’s Fishcakes to further diversify their business model to account for the impacts on the sector such as the cost-of-living crisis and cost of utilities, who now offer a home food service to meet the needs of their customers.
