Van der Lee Seafish is certified for the V label

At the beginning of February of this year, Van der Lee Seafish received notification from the European Vegetarian Union that they are certified for the V label. This means that from now, on they can use the quality mark for their VEGAN products; fish substitutes based on vegetable food ingredients. Van der Lee Seafish started developing these VEGAN products about two years ago in order to respond to the increasing demand for vegan food products. The conditions and requirements for the VEGAN product before the V label is awarded are very strict: the product must be completely 100% free of ingredients of animal origin. The test results were very positive and the VEGAN products were praised. Many thousands of kilos have already been produced and the vegan fish substitutes are available – under private label – at well-known, large supermarket chains in Germany, Spain and England. With this new vegan product line, Van der Lee Seafish serves existing, but also new markets and customers. Moreover, this makes the company less dependent on the variable and seasonal supply of fresh fish.

By starting the development of VEGAN products two years ago, Van der Lee Seafish has built up a head start in terms of quality, which has been confirmed with the award of the V label. Van der Lee Seafish is now focusing further on expanding the range by developing new VEGAN natural products, including a wakame and samphire burgers and other products based on vegetables, superfoods and dairy. (see also: /products/vegan-fish)

New at Van der Lee Seafish: VEGAN FISH!

Van der Lee Seafish is introducing a new product line based on plant-based ingredients. These products meet the standards for being labelled “vegan”: no ingredients of animal origin are used in the formulation of these products. The new products focus on the international market for fish products.

The first products to come off the production line are breaded and pre-fried veggie fish moulds such as schnitzels, burgers, nuggets, sticks and shrimps. The product base is made from ingredients of plant-based origin (rice) with flavour extracts and natural flavouring. The products have the texture and taste of real fish. In addition to vegan and veg fish products with various coatings, Van der Lee Seafish will also produce natural vegetarian fish products. Products that are currently in development are Fishless Kibbeling, Vegetarian Bites and Veggie Salmon Burgers. These products are positioned as meat and fish substitutes. The next stage will soon follow with seaweed-based products, including a wakame and sea-kale burger, as well as products made from vegetable, super-food and dairy-based ingredients

Van der Lee Seafish wants to be at the forefront of the development, production and marketing of vegan fish products. It is a growth market that can no longer be relegated to the foreseeable future. It will constitute a significant portion of the company’s total turnover.

View more Vegan fish products

New cold storage warehouse operational: substantial expansion realized.

The extensive expansion of Van der Lee Seafish was completed in August. At the beginning of this year, the foundation was laid for the construction of a completely new 1,200 m2 cold storage warehouse. The warehouse is now operational and can store 3,500 pallets (over 2,000 tonnes of products). After the fire in April 2018, the decision was made to construct a new building and to significantly expand the cold storage capacity. In total we can now place more than 6,000 pallets. The production area for crumbed and pre-fried products has also been considerably increased by 1,300 m2 and on the first floor a 1,500 m2 dry storage area has been created for herbs, spices, coatings, ingredients, and packaging material.

The new distribution area is equipped with three loading docks. All production processes, storage, and order processing now take place under one roof making us more flexible and highly efficient and enabling us to serve our clients even better. The necessary expansion of capacity is a direct result of the expansion of our product range and the increase in the number of clients from different market segments.

Conxemar Exhibition Vigo, Spain 2019

This year, we’ll once again be represented at the Conxemar Exhibition in Vigo, Spain (1-3 Oct). We look forward to welcoming you to our stand once more. We would be delighted to give you more information on our wide range of fish and fish products, as well as our extensive range and services in the area of packaging. We also look forward to telling you about the recent developments at Van der Lee Seafish. Our turnover has grown again in the past year due to an increase in trade as well as the production of more products. To manage the growth satisfactorily, we have started the construction of a new freezing storage unit, suitable for storing more than 2,000 tonnes of product. Furthermore, our coating production hall and the shipping department are being expanded significantly. And there’s even more news…

We would like to welcome you to our stand, B-20.

We hope to see you there.

Will you be visiting us at the Seafood Expo Global in Brussels?

This year, we’ll once again be represented at the Seafood Expo Global in Brussels (7-9 May). We look forward to welcoming you to our stand once more. We would be delighted to give you more information on our wide range of fish and fish products, as well as our extensive range and services in the area of packaging. We also look forward to telling you about the recent developments at Van der Lee Seafish. Our turnover has grown again in the past year due to an increase in trade as well as the production of more products. To manage the growth satisfactorily, we have started the construction of a new freezing storage unit, suitable for storing more than 2,000 tonnes of product. Furthermore, our coating production hall and the shipping department are being expanded significantly. And there’s even more news…

We would like to welcome you to our stand, stand no. 9-4239 at the Holland Pavilion in Hall 9.

For free access, you can register online with the VIP/promotion code: SEG1930061

We hope to see you there.

Coldstore Expansion of 3.500 pallets Through Sustained Growth

Coldstore Expansion of 3.500 pallets Through Sustained Growth

2019 is about growth and expansion for Van der Lee Seafish. Turnover has once again increased in the past year, due to an increase in trade and the production of more available products. In order to manage this growth, the organization has adapted.

New Cold Storage Facility

The construction of a new cold storage facility measuring 1,200 m2 has begun, in which 3,500 pallets can be stored, holding over 2,000 tonnes of product. In addition, the shipping section (with 3 loading docks) and the coating production hall will be expanded to 1,300 m2. Above this, a floor measuring 1,500 m2 for the storage of herbs, spices, coating ingredients, other ingredients and seafood packaging materials, will be constructed. Everything will be housed under one roof, for optimal efficiency. Later this spring, the existing freezer cell will be rebuilt and expanded with space for 300 additional pallets, which will allow for the total storage capacity to exceed 6,000 pallets.

The growth and the necessary increase of our capacity are a direct consequence of the expansion of our range, as well as the increase of customers from various market segments. In order to service our customers promptly and efficiently, delivering as per their requirements, our organization is being adapted accordingly. In 2017, an additional production line had already been installed in the coating production hall, making it possible to produce gluten-free breaded fish products using the most up-to-date hygienic standards.

If everything goes according to schedule, the new construction and renovations will be completed by mid-July.

You can stay informed of the developments via our website and subscribe to our YouTube channel. More videos will be made available soon.

Conxemar exhibition Vigo 2018

Conxemar Exhibition 2018 – Vigo, Spain

In the 2018 edition of the Conxemar exhibition that shall be held between October 2th and 4th in Vigo, Spain. Van der Lee Seafish wants to again welcome all clients and visitors to Stand B-20, located in the new pavilion. We look forward to personally showing you our complete range of fish and seafood from the Northsea as well as the new presentation formats: each piece individually vacuumed, 800g and 600g retail and 500g heat sealed tray for shellfish and seafood.

See you in Vigo.

Van der Lee Seafish commissions UK 136 ‘Drakkar’ into service

Van der Lee Seafish has recently commissioned their new acquisition, the UK 136, into service. This modern fishing trawler replaces the HD 70. This was the first vessel used by Van der Lee Seafish after the fish producer made the strategic decision to purchase their own fishing trawler with fishing rights in 2016.

With the beam trawler HD 70 Hanny, Van der Lee Seafish became an official fishery. The newly plotted course was a great success: over the past two years Van der Lee Seafish assured a steady supply of high-quality North Sea fish. In December 2017 the decision was made to replace the HD 70 and to purchase a younger, more modern fishing trawler. The Flemish trawler B 518 Drakkar was found through shipbroker Elburger Scheepsbemiddeling. The vessel was built in 1998 at De Graeve Shipyards in Belgium and measures nearly 38 metres in length. The trawler underwent a complete refit over the past six months and is now 100% ready to assume its duties.

Under the authority of skipper Jan Steven Korf whose family number is UK 136, Van der Lee Seafish will be able to strengthen its position in the market with the Drakkar through the permanent supply of high-quality plaice and sole delivered fresh from the catch for sale to its customers.

Van der Lee Seafish continues its plotted course with new fishing trawler

Van der Lee Seafish took the strategic decision in April of 2016 to purchase their own fishing trawler including fishing rights; the HD 70. This newly set course worked out well. During the past year and a half, we have experienced that this way Van der Lee Seafish is assured of sufficient supply of qualitative fish from the North Sea. In order to be able to fish even more efficiently and to be able to continue an even better quality, Van der Lee has purchased a younger and more modern model fishing trawler, the B518, which is going to replace the HD70. The Flemish boat retains the name ‘Drakkar’ but will sail under the flag of Urk and receives the registration number UK 136, the family number of skipper Korf. Van der Lee can strengthen their position in the market with the new trawler, because of the steady supply of a high-quality plaice and sole, delivered directly, freshly caught, to their customers.
Read more – article Fishery news

Come and visit us at the Seafood Expo Global in Brussels

We are back in action this year. Van der Lee Seafish will be presenting itself with a stand of its own at one of the most important international business exhibitions for fish: Seafood Expo Global in Brussels(25, 26, 27 April). In addition to the large and well-known assortment of fish and fish products, close attention will be paid to the many opportunities and solutions that we can offer, in terms of packaging, this time. Van der Lee Seafish has started using a new packaging department quite recently, which has been built entirely ‘custom-made’ for the company. As a result, the business market can be entered into really quickly with a wide variety of packaging and weight units. We will gladly inform you of which new and additional possibilities we can offer you. We will be located in the Holland Pavilion, Hall 9, stand number 9-4239. You are hereby cordially invited to come and visit us and we will have a ‘goodie bag’ for each visitor.
We hope to see you soon!