Our heritage

Our business and family heritage are in fish and fishing.

  • Our business was named for Jack Carlisle Smith, a Grimsby pioneer in salmon

    Our business was named for Jack Carlisle Smith, a Grimsby pioneer in salmon

  • The first Coulbeck family business was located in Grimsby fish docks

    The first Coulbeck family business was located in Grimsby fish docks

  • Jack Smith (left) unloading wild salmon with a colleague

    Jack Smith (left) unloading wild salmon with a colleague

  • Andrew Coulbeck in 1990 with a magnificent wild-caught salmon

    Andrew Coulbeck in 1990 with a magnificent wild-caught salmon

  • Three generations of our family are involved in our business

    Three generations of our family are involved in our business

Founded in 2000, JCS Fish is owned and run by the Coulbeck family.  Founders Andrew and Louise Coulbeck both have deep roots in the fish industry: Louise comes from a trawling background whilst Andrew was brought up in his family business, Richard Coulbeck Limted (RC) and has been working in seafood since the age of 16, so he now has nearly 45 years experience in the industry!

When RC acquired another long-established Grimsby firm, Jack Smith Limited, Andrew Coulbeck starting worked closely with Jack Carlisle Smith himself.  Jack was renowned locally for his specialist knowledge of salmon and shared his fifty years of experience with Andrew before he retired. 

With Jack as his mentor, Andrew in turn became one of Grimsby's leading salmon experts.  When Andrew and Louise came to found our business, they named it JCS Fish in honour of Jack, who had had such an impact on Andy's career.

Today, JCS Fish is well established and growing fast, with a network of major customers in both foodservice and retail.  And we're still very much a family business, having been joined a couple of years ago by son Jack Coulbeck, together with wife, Rosie.  Jack is now our commercial manager whilst Rosie leads our financial team.

This family ethos is very much part of the JCS Fish spirit and extends to our local workforce, which includes many people who have grown with us since the early days.  As our company enters its 20th year, we are delighted to be growing in the great tradition of independent family business: teamwork and respect for the individual contributions of every person who works with us.

  • “I am so proud to continue our family tradition in seafood. And through JCS Fish hopefully we can have a real impact on the nation's enjoyment of salmon! ”

    Andrew Coulbeck

    Founder and MD

Enquiries

Do get in touch for more information about JCS Fish or our products.