The company was founded by my late father Bernard Johnson in 1975 and started life on the opposite side of the Camber Dock to where the market is now.
At the beginning, the company provided an outlet for the local fisherman to land their catches on a daily basis with a small retail outlet on the Camber Quay, (where I, Andrew Johnson, worked as a Saturday boy) and the remainder of the catches going up to Billingsgate Market in London as there wasn't enough demand initially.
Later, with equal investment from 3 other fishermen, the company purchased its first beam trawler from Holland, and began to grow quickly with a succession of large trawlers over the next 20 years and much local employment. At its peak, the company employed around 60 staff, most of which were fishermen keeping 7 large trawlers at sea.
During this period I started out as a deckhand and went on to gain my skippers ticket, skippering 6 different trawlers over a 21 year career at sea, catching fish all around the UK, often known as being at the sharp end of this industry.
Then in the late 1990's the fishing industry hit difficult times, with soaring fuel prices, EEC involvement, fish quotas, boats being laid up etc. At this time two directors chose to leave the company to follow their own paths. My father and I decided to sell the remaining trawlers with a view to me working abroad, my father retiring and winding up the company.
After a difficult couple of years I decided with the help of my sister Cheryl (company secretary) and Dave Dench (marketing manager) to give it another go and re-invent the company. In April 2000 Johnson's Enterprises Ltd began life, we were a total of 5 staff and one rusty old van. Over the next few years we have continually invested in new cold rooms, freezers, ice maker, shop area and new high spec refrigerated vans.
We are now a total of 10 excellent trained and experienced staff with between us a great many years experience in the fishing industry. We now buy as much local day-boat fish and shellfish as we can off the south coast as well as sourcing fish from most other major UK fishing ports, all delivered daily to our premises, we also import a significant amount of fresh fish from abroad.
We are constantly searching for the best possible prices without compromising on quality and freshness. Our aim is always to deliver a superior product in prime condition. In the market you can come and see the daily deliveries of over-landed and locally-landed fish for yourself and watch our experienced fishmongers prepare your fish to the highest standards. We have a large wetfish and frozen shop area open to both the public and trade alike, 6 days a week. We can prepare pack and deliver to a wide range of customers from schools, colleges, hotels, restaurants, pubs, small cafes, butchers, fishmongers and of course the general public.
We pride ourselves on our fishmongering skills and knowledge of seafood to prepare (free of charge) any fish both to ours and our customers high standards.
Essentially we are committed to offer a personal service tailored to meet our customers expectations of quality, freshness, cost and reliability at all times.