Following four decades at sea fishing the waters around Scotland, Jimmy Buchan set up Amity Fish Company, with the aim of opening up Scotland’s seafood larder to the foodservice sector and beyond.
We have worked with Jimmy and the team for over ten years and we chatted to him about the business, his relationship with ESS and the range of collaborative projects delivered in that time.
Could you tell us a bit about Amity Fish?
Having spent four decades at sea catching fish, my ambition was to transition from catcher to supplier wholesaler and ensure that Scotland’s seafood larder was being rolled out across foodservice and beyond. A high percentage of our seafood leaves Scotland’s shores destined for global markets, with importers bringing in lesser quality products – I wanted to change that.
Born into Peterhead’s seafood heritage, I'm proud to be a seafood supplier to ESS and showcase our long heritage here in Northeast Scotland. We've built our brand on trust in our products and service – we've grown at a pace and size that can deliver what chefs need, and the support of ESS has been a key part of that.
How long have you worked with ESS and which products do you supply to us?
We've worked with ESS for over 10 years, and in that time our range and reach have expanded to meet the needs of the company’s culinary team. We started by supplying langoustines, haddock and cod, but that has now increased. These days, we'll source, pack and supply the finest Scottish seafood to meet the needs and demands of the ESS business. We're able to provide the whole range, in terms of species and cost, so ESS can offer a good selection to customers. This relationship has been an important part of our journey and has been successful for both parties.
What are some of the ways you’ve collaborated with us?
We know that ESS is very focused on sustainability, as we are at Amity. To that end, we will only supply from credible and approved fisheries. We use the MSC accreditation scheme Chain of Custody to give peace of mind that the seafood we're supplying to ESS is approved and can be used with confidence.
As well as being the sole supplier of haddock and cod to ESS Energy in its on and offshore contracts for use in daily menus, we also provide a range of speciality lines for events and during the festive period.
We’ve been flown offshore twice to promote quality seafood – in many cases caught close to the locations of the facilities we were visiting.
Have you attended any special events with us?
We've often supported ESS as a local supplier showcasing our products. This has included attending client events in Aberdeenshire, larger events in London and driving out to Germany to deliver a range of seafood to the Compass culinary team at the IKA Olympics.
We recently worked in collaboration with ESS at Seafest Peterhead – the second of these biennial events, which celebrate the amazing seafood from the area in conjunction with Seafood Scotland, who represent all elements of the Scottish seafood industry. ESS supported by delivering eight demonstrations, showcasing a range of pelagic fish and seafood. The event also included sessions on sustainability in conjunction with MSC and Seafood Scotland.
Is there anything you’d like to add about your partnership with ESS?
We take great pride in our relationship with ESS and its chefs and managers, which has developed over the years – I think it’s fair to say that ESS has the same association with us as we look to build on our collaborative success and continue to supply from Scotland’s great seafood larder. It’s been brilliant to be able to support local people, grow our brand and build a relationship based on quality and trust.
I remember when Graham Singer first approached me about the opportunity to supply – with his help, guidance and understanding of the foodservice industry, I’ve been able to develop myself and the business to better understand and meet the needs of this diverse business. I value the shared vision and the trust they put in me.
