NEW DAWN FOR DAWNFRESH

Alastair Salvesen was devastated when fire gutted his Uddingston premises.

Press the forward button 13 years and Dawnfresh Seafoods are opening new markets for their large trout around the globe.
The company, based at Bothwellpark Industrial Estate, Lanarkshire, report encouraging returns from their new export market in South Africa.
Bosses are now talking to business contacts throughout Europe but, further afield, they are also in discussions with representatives in Thailand.
And, possibly six months down the line, they intend to be knocking on doors in China and Russia.
Domestically, things are booming. The company supply major supermarkets including Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
And they are looking to provide trout to some of Britain’s top hotels.
Butressing the company’s message are the returns from recent blind tastings.
A cross-section of the population tested claim, according to company chairman, Alastair Salvesen, that “trout is king”.
This is all a far cry from 1999 and that devastating fire. Mr Salvesen, who lives in Pathhead, Midlothian, has rebuilt the factory and now has 450 employes.
He said: “We opened again in 2001 after the fire and we are developing the company rapidly.
Trout has a tiddly penetration into the world market as against salmon. We believe it is around five per cent against the market share of salmon of 95 per cent.
“However, our tasting results are really positive. We’ve done a cross-section of the population, from children to middle-class to professional people and those over 45.
“People will always go for trout. Trout is king.”
The company have recently launched a range of easy-to-cook trout with flavours including cream cheese and butter sauce.
They have proved really popular and Mr Salvesen added: “People have the wrong impression of trout. They think it is a small fish with a lot of bones.

“It is not. It is find tasting fish oily fish packed with Omega 3 and it has a lot of health benefits.”

Dawnfresh farm trout in Loch Awe and Loch Etive and their HQ is in Uddingston. Why?

Mr Salvesen again: “It is a good location on the chilled lorry route, it is easy for our customers to visit, it is on the motorway network and it is near Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.” Case closed.