Food & Drink

Hull & Humber has the largest concentration of food industries in the UK, employing around 48,000 in the food sector. There is a concentration of activity based on the processing, wholesaling and retailing of fish because of the region’s strong links with the sea.

Hull & Humber handles a significant amount of crude and refined oils and fats. Other important activities are growing cereals and other crops, swine farming and the production and preserving of meat and poultry products.

On the South Bank of the Humber, Grimsby is known as “Europe’s food town” and is home to over 500 food and food-related businesses, accounting for a combined annual turnover of about £2.5 billion a year. Big players such as Young’s Bluecrest, Country Style and Baxter’s are all based in the area that is home to the UK’s four largest food processors.

The town has more cold storage facilities than anywhere else in the UK and accounts for approximately 70% of the UK’s fish processing economy.

In addition, Hull & Humber has the largest and most sophisticated fresh fish market in the UK.