Isle of Shuna

FFB sends mussels to Brussels!

FFB helped Scottish seafood company Isle of Shuna gain a foothold in one of the most competitive markets in Europe by supplying mussels to Brussels.

A big appetite for mussels

As the nation with the highest per capita consumption of mussels in the world, Belgium is renowned for its discerning mussels consumers. Traditionally, almost all mussels eaten in Belgium are imported from Zeeland in the Netherlands, with an incredible 80% of Holland’s total mussel produce exported to Belgium.

Identifying a gap in the market

The mussel season in Belgium starts in July, however quality declines at the end of the season in December. FFB Belgium was able to spot a gap in the market for Isle of Shuna to exploit. The company has now secured a listing with Delhaize, one of Belgium’s leading supermarket chains, to stock its fresh mussels, extending the season until May. Belgian consumers can now satisfy their need for high-quality mussels even in the winter months when Dutch, Belgian and French mussels are unavailable in stores.

“This is a major step forward for us,” said John Brewer, Managing Director of Isle of Shuna. “It shows our product has the depth of quality that’s right for a very sophisticated Continental market.”

Find out more about the Belgian market by visiting FFB Belgium.