Product Offerings
Product Categories:
Fish and Seafood Products, Seafood
Products:
Fresh Salmon: premium fillet portions
Product Gallery:
Loch Duart Salmon Ltd, headquartered in Scourie, Sutherland, Scotland, is an independent salmon farming company with a renowned reputation for producing premium quality, ethically farmed salmon. Since its establishment in 1999, Loch Duart has become a benchmark in sustainable aquaculture, operating responsibly in the remote north-west Highlands of Scotland.
Company Background
Founded to challenge conventional aquaculture methods, Loch Duart has built its brand around high-welfare, low-density farming. Unlike many large-scale industrial producers, Loch Duart maintains a small-scale operation that prioritizes fish health, environmental stewardship, and full traceability.
Under the leadership of CEO Alban Denton, the company has received international recognition for its commitment to innovation, transparency, and sustainability in fish farming practices. Loch Duart is independently owned and operates its own hatcheries, farms, and processing facilities.
Core Business
Loch Duart’s core business revolves around the production and global distribution of premium Scottish salmon. The company supplies:
- Fresh whole salmon
- Salmon fillets and portions
- Smoked salmon products
Their target clientele includes Michelin-starred chefs, high-end retailers, fine-dining restaurants, and health-conscious consumers worldwide.
Product Offerings
Loch Duart offers:
- Fresh Salmon Fillets: Prized for their firm texture, vibrant color, and high omega-3 content
- Smoked Salmon: Cold-smoked using traditional methods for gourmet markets
- Speciality Cuts: Tailored for foodservice and export requirements
- Welfare-Friendly Salmon: Raised without antibiotics, hormones, or growth promoters
Each product is traceable to its specific farm site, providing full transparency from hatchery to harvest.
Specialization and USP
Loch Duart differentiates itself through a unique farming approach known as “The Loch Duart Way”:
- Low Stocking Densities: Up to 98% water and 2% fish to minimize stress and improve welfare
- No Antibiotics Policy: The company hasn’t used antibiotics since 2019
- Natural Feed Ingredients: Feed is made using marine ingredients from certified sustainable sources
- Resting Sites: Farms are fallowed for extended periods to allow ecosystems to regenerate
- Cleaner Fish Program: Uses wrasse and lumpfish as natural methods of sea lice control
These practices yield healthier fish with superior flavor and texture, setting Loch Duart apart in a market often dominated by large-scale producers.
Financial Insights
As a privately held company, Loch Duart does not publish full financial statements publicly. However, industry insights from Companies House and trade data suggest:
- Estimated Annual Revenue: £20–25 million (based on processing capacity and market pricing)
- Processing Output: Approximately 5,000 tonnes of premium salmon annually
- High-Value Markets: Focused on premium segment with significantly higher per-kg prices than commodity salmon
Loch Duart’s vertically integrated model allows for quality control and operational efficiency, contributing to strong gross margins.
Shipment and Export Records
According to trade data from ImportYeti and Volza:
- Exports to over 25 countries, including France, Italy, Spain, the United States, Japan, and the UAE
- Major clients: Gourmet seafood distributors, luxury hotels, airline caterers, and leading restaurant chains
- Consistent export volumes: Around 400–500 consignments per year in various fresh and frozen formats
These records confirm Loch Duart’s strong export capabilities and consistent demand in international premium markets.
Target Markets
Loch Duart targets:
- Fine-dining restaurants and culinary institutions
- Premium seafood retailers and gourmet supermarkets
- Hospitality groups including airlines and cruise ships
- Health and wellness-focused consumers
Notable customers have included British Airways First Class, Fortnum & Mason, and high-end sushi chains in Asia.
Capabilities
- Hatchery-to-harvest control of entire salmon lifecycle
- In-house broodstock selection to optimize health and genetics
- Dedicated processing and packaging facilities
- Refrigerated transport infrastructure for global logistics
- Marine site rotation and environmental risk management
Loch Duart’s facilities are equipped for both chilled and frozen salmon production to support year-round international distribution.
Certifications and Compliance
Loch Duart operates with rigorous standards and accreditations, including:
- Global G.A.P. Certification
- Label Rouge (France) for premium quality seafood
- Friends of the Sea sustainable aquaculture certification
- RSPCA Assured for animal welfare
- Scottish SPCA monitored practices
The company is regularly audited for environmental, social, and food safety compliance, reinforcing its market credibility.
Customer Testimonials
While direct testimonials are proprietary, Loch Duart has received endorsements from:
- Michel Roux Jr., 2-Michelin-star chef, who described Loch Duart salmon as “exceptional”
- Fortnum & Mason, referring to it as “the best salmon on the market”
- Consistently positive trade press coverage in The Caterer, SeafoodSource, and Scottish Farmer
The consistent demand from high-profile chefs and restaurants stands as a testament to the product’s premium positioning.
Major Achievements
- Exported over 45 million meals' worth of salmon globally since inception
- Chosen salmon provider for the 2012 London Olympics
- Introduced the UK’s first antibiotic-free, welfare-focused farming model
- Featured in BBC’s The Food Programme and multiple sustainability case studies
- Named Best Aquaculture Company (UK) by Seafood Awards in 2021
Loch Duart Salmon continues to lead by example in responsible aquaculture, combining ethics with excellence to deliver one of the world’s finest salmons from the Scottish Highlands.