Royal Shrimps on a Toasted Muffin anyone?

From Morecambe Bay waters to toasted muffin. How technology streamlines the journey of the humble Morecambe Bay shrimp from the sea to the customer.

The Process

September to October is the main season for catching shrimps which, in this area, come mainly from Morecambe Bay and the Solway. The unpredictability of catches means that in a good season some shrimps can be frozen and sold later when there is a low season.

The shrimps move through a process from the traditional, that is catching and blanching them by the fishermen to the modern. In the factory machines shell, grade, clean and boil the shrimps with butter and spices. They are then potted with the traditional butter seal.

The whole process follows strict regulations. Baxters of Morecambe’s Royal Warrant ensures by law that their shrimps have full traceability from the Bay to the pot. Peeled at the factory in Flookburgh they are potted in Morecambe. A Royal Warrant is the ultimate accolade.

The Sale

Technology plays its part also in marketing and promoting the shrimps and other products that they sell, such as frozen fish, game and poultry. The firm has a comprehensive website which markets all their products and uses mail orders, which are particularly busy at Christmas. The shrimps are not exported but sold to various stores including Booths, Waitrose and Morrisons. Farm shops and delis are also outlets for selling the shrimps. A converted van is now used as a street food van selling the local seafood and Morecambe Bay and Baxter’s shrimps on a toasted muffin.