DESPITE THE problems faced by the Scottish sea fishing industries, local fish processing specialists R. R. Spink & Sons Ltd have announced another excellent trading year, with a number of milestones passed.

Marks & Spencer, one of the country’s leading High Street quality food retailers, have established considerable links with the Arbroath-based company and now rate them as a number one delicatessen supplier.

Eighteen months ago, two Spink products were listed by the company. By this year end that list stood at 15, an enormous tribute to the working relationship growing between M&S and R. R. Spinks.

Significantly, the four jointly-developed Christmas products have generated more than half a million pounds of sales this year.

In the spring Spinks will launch another five new products using new processes, which promise to take the company’s products into new areas and create new jobs for Arbroath.

With a turnover of more than £6.5 million, the company is proud to be one of the major manufacturing companies in Arbroath, employing just over 100 people.

General manager Gary Greenwood is quick to acknowledge the quality and commitment of his workforce, and is keen to emphasise that the growth and success of the company is in the hands of its loyal workforce.

New product development, management and staff training, team building, are all important strategies within the company’s plans for the future. Angus College is the provider of a number of courses the company employ.

On the back of the EC protection of the Arbroath smokie, championed by director Bob Spink, that locally famous product is now listed in Asda, Sainsbury, Tesco, and Waitrose, as well as restaurants all over the country. Smokies were even sent to the Antarctic this year.

Mr Spink was awarded the Pride in Seafood Award by the Seafish Industry Authority as the individual who had done the most to promote seafood in Scotland during 2005.

Another late development is the launch of the company’s internet shopping site.