Company sells mussels to Brussels

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A Shetland shellfish firm has landed a major deal to supply Belgium with its national dish of mussels.

Isle of Shuna said it had signed a six-figure contract to supply the supermarket chain Delhaize.

Isle of Shuna managing director Donny Gillies said: "Supplying Belgium with mussels may seem a bit like selling snow to the Eskimos."

But he explained: "This is excellent news. It emphasises that fresh Scottish shellfish is the best in the world."

All of our mussels are grown in the crystal clear waters of Shetland and the west coast of Scotland Donny GilliesIsle of Shuna managing director

Isle of Shuna will supply Delhaize with two sizes of product.

The shellfish producer is now targeting European countries including France, Holland and Germany.

The Delhaize deal follows a recent European funding win of almost £500,000 to Isle of Shuna.

It is aimed at boosting the Scottish mussel farming industry in Europe.

Isle of Shuna's funding grant from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) is for state-of-the-art cooking facilities and new equipment at its main plant, and could create up to 10 new jobs.

Mr Gillies said of the firm's mussels: "The taste is superior as all of our mussels are grown in the crystal clear waters of Shetland and the west coast of Scotland."