Loch Duart wins bank funding for feed barges
Salmon farmer Loch Duart has secured £1.2 million from HSBC UK bank to buy two new feed barges from Inverness-based supplier Gael Force.
Loch Duart financial director Simon Maguire said: “The new barges improve the safety of our staff, which is a priority for us, and enables them to take on more skilled work within the company.
“The funding from HSBC UK has enabled us to take a natural next step in enhancing our processes as we look for opportunities to grow the business and broaden the supply of our award-winning salmon.”
In a press release, HSBC said the new barges will free up Loch Duart’s employees from repetitive manual labour and allow them to focus on building upon innovation, including the development of sustainable farming methods endorsed by the RSPCA, such as long-term rotational fallowing and environmental enrichment practises.
Key employer
Grant Bett, relationship director for HSBC UK in Scotland, said: “The team at Loch Duart continues to innovate, finding new ways to streamline the business and prioritise its staff as the key employer in the local communities.
“We’re delighted to support this next step for what is a truly ambitious Scottish business, with an excellent success story, as they continue to deliver world-class, acclaimed premium salmon which is exported globally and served in various Michelin-starred restaurants around the UK.”
Scourie-based Loch Duart produces around 5,000 tonnes per year and employs 115 people in the Hebrides and Sutherland. The salmon is sold to leading hotels, restaurants and retailers at home and abroad.
