Something fishy's going on along Heads Rd in Wanganui, and All-Ports Food and Distribution are responsible.
The wholesale food service business is expanding its horizons bringing the ocean, and more, to the Wanganui community.
To cope with local demand from the public the company recently opened a small wholesale shop at the
Heads Rd site, stocking chilled and frozen product for the public at wholesale prices.
It's newest development is the installation of a bio-filter tank, housing live crayfish.
Shop manager Sonia White says the new venture is in response to a spike in demand for unusual seafood products. "We have a steady demand for crayfish. Being able to stock them live means we don't have to order in cooked or frozen to satisfy our customer's needs," she said, "You can't get any fresher than live."
Owner Gary Williams said All-Ports began 30 years ago as a backyard business in Harrison St, but moved to 6 Heads Rd in 2009 in response to a "tremendous growth in business". Now it was a major distributors of all types of seafood, chips and potato products, cooking fats and oils, rice, smallgoods, cakes, pastries and paper to eateries across most of the lower North Island.
Ms White said the business had four freezer-equipped trucks on the road at any one time, delivering 75tonnes of chips and potato products each month, and more than 17 tonnes of fish products. "Not to mention patties, fritters, sausages, hot dogs, doughnuts, squid rings, sauces, cakes, rice and any other food items that you are able to buy from a takeaway shop," she said.
Fresh fish was also sold to order, though demand was limited to a few restaurants.
"Moana Pacific in Auckland cut our fresh fish for us twice a week and courier it down to Wanganui overnight. Main species are snapper, gurnard, tarakihi, ling and alfonsino," she said.
Keen to keep growing, however, Ms White and Mr Williams encourage local restaurants, and the public to start increasing the amount of fresh seafood on their menus.
"The food service business is dynamic. New products are being introduced continuously, new businesses spring up and the takeaway sector seems to change ownership more frequently than other types of retail," Mr Williams said. "For All-Ports it's a matter of keeping up with these changes and keeping our customers informed.
"With the Bluff oyster season starting this week, we're anticipating a great season and continued growth for the business."
