Baltic fishermen plan to expand sales operations for fish products
Fishing Updates: The Closed Shop Makes Way for a New Factory Sale
Brace Yerself: Bad Before the Good, MateFirst, the downer: The local fish shop at Freest's Fishermen's Cooperative shuttered its doors back in August. But hold up, we've got some good news on the horizon for Baltic Sea lovers.
From Store to Smokin' Deals
Don't fret, Freest fanatics! The beloved specialties will hit the docks again. According to the managing chairman of the Fishermen's Cooperative "Peenemünde" Freest, Stefan Thurow, a smaller sales room will pop up in the processing building, similar to a "factory sale."
These sales hours, Thurow reveals, will likely be shorter than the former shop's, mainly occurring when staff is already at work in the adjacent smokehouse. No fuss, no additional staff are required due to the close proximity. If customers show up, they just need to ring, and an employee will hustle over to make the deal.
Selling Straight from the Sea
As of early 2025, the Fishermen's Cooperative managed 12 fishing companies with 13 fishermen, reports the cooperative's website. Their business revolves around selling the fish landed here. While the store's shuttering is a bummer, it's becoming increasingly common for fishermen to sell their goods directly.
Currently, Thurow reveals, fresh fish can mostly be obtained directly from the cutter in Freest. The daily catch is sold straight from the boats, which, as Thurow acknowledges, can be a gamble when you factor in seals, cormorants, EU fishing quotas, and pesky bad weather.
But worry not! The cooperative is bustling with more than just the store. Take a step inside the smokehouse, where herring, hornfish, halibut from the North Atlantic, and salmon from Norwegian companies are all smoked. For the smoke, a mix of beech and birch wood pellets are used. Beech makes the fish more smoky, while birch gives it a subtle flavor. Five fully automatic smoking ovens keep the smoky magic going.
The Factory Sale's Grand Opening
According to the cooperative's records, they produced 135 tons of smoked fish last year. They trade in not only smoked fish but also frozen goods, pre-prepared goods for personal or business use, and marinades (salt herring, et al.). Thurow describes the cooperative as a one-stop shop for smoked fish and marinades.
With smoked fish and marinades, the factory sale will kick off. As for fresh fish? We'll have to wait and see, as it's perishable and can only be kept for two days. The factory sale is aiming for a launch in early July, with a refrigerated display case (2.50 meters wide) scheduled to arrive soon. The cooperative's primary products are halibut and salmon fillets, followed by butterfish, eel, and mackerel. Seasonal offerings like whole flounder or sprats make for niche delights.
Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure the information provided is accurate, please note that details about the opening date and the types of smoked fish specialties offered at the Fishermen's Cooperative are subject to change. For the most current and reliable information, I recommend checking the cooperative's official website or local announcements.
- Despite the closure of the fish shop at Freest's Fishermen's Cooperative, customers can still look forward to enjoying the same specialties, as a new factory sale will offer the goods directly.
- Complementing the upcoming factory sale, the Fishermen's Cooperative will continue to provide a diverse range of food-and-drink options, such as smoked herring, hornfish, halibut, salmon, and various marinades, through their smokehouse and home-and-garden section.
