Local fish experts hope to hook BIM seafood awards

WEST Cork is well represented in the shortlist for the BIM Seafood Retail Business Award 2018. 

BIM are looking for retail managers that can demonstrate successful business models, excellent understanding of seafood, coupled with outstanding business and sales acumen.  

Meeting that criteria under the Independent Seafood Specialist category are Lar McCarthy from  the Fresh Fish Shop in Bandon, along with Donagh Good of the Good Fish Shop in Carrigaline, while Piotr Wojakowski from Fields SuperValu in Skibbereen is a finalist in the Supermarket Seafood Manager category.

Applications were invited for the inaugural Seafood Business Retail Awards under the two headings, Supermarket Seafood Counters and Independent Seafood Specialists. 

The competition finals will take place in September when each of the finalists will present to a panel of business experts including retail mentor James Burke, entrepreneur and businessman Bobby Kerr, financial advisor Moira Creedon, and Ronald Hovenars, a food business mentor from Holland, who brings an international element of insight into progressive seafood retailing.

 Jim O'Toole of BIM said: ‘The objective of this competition is to identify the seafood business with the best seafood business skillset.  The judges will be taking a critical look at management structures, future growth plans, sales and profit performance. 

 In September the finalists will need to reflect to the judges how they have implemented what they have learned through their mentoring with the experts in BIM for the benefit of the business, and how they plan to grow their businesses into the future.'

The winners will receive a prize package of business supports worth €15,000 including branding and promotional advice, PR training, business mentoring and support, helping to further develop their business into the future.