Morrisons’ food manufacturing supplier Myton Food Group has invested £12.8 million into developing its Falfish Freezing Centre.

Morrisons said the facility is the largest of its type in the UK, with the ability to individually quick freeze up to 180 tonnes of sardines and other varieties of fish per day.

The new £12.8 million development at Falfish has the capacity to freeze 112,000 fish per hour. The business supplies Morrisons stores with over 80% of its fish, including mackerel, cod, monkfish and scallops, together with spidercrab, wild seabass and seabream.

Plans for the site began in 2021 when Morrisons acquired Falfish after being a supplier for over 16 years. It represents the “largest single investment made in Cornish shoresides in a generation”, with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) providing £3.8 million of the funding through their UK Seafood Infrastructure Fund.

Andrew Thornber, managing director of Myton Food Group, said: “Over 80% of the fish and shellfish sold in Morrisons stores comes from our seafood operations in Cornwall, where we buy directly from local fishermen.

“Opening the UK’s largest fish freezing centre not only strengthens our position as one of Britain’s biggest food makers but also significantly grows our seafood export business. We have been excited about this innovative project since acquiring Falfish in 2021, which makes such a positive difference to the local industry and community and provides a sustainable future – as well as the freshest fish for customers in Morrisons stores.”