Jordan Keig from Robinson’s Foods, Isle of Man, has been announced as the first winner of the Master Fishmonger Standard Young Fishmonger Award at a ceremony on 3 June at Fishmongers’ Hall.
Jordan was selected from a shortlist of four candidates by a combination of a public vote and a panel of certified Master Fishmongers. Open to fishmongers aged 25 and under, the Young Fishmonger Award recognises exceptional knife skills as well as customer service and passion for the industry. You can watch Jordan’s winning entry here.
A slightly shell-shocked Jordan said: “It still doesn’t feel real that I can now call myself MFS young fishmonger of the year 2019. I never thought I could achieve anything like this, so to go and win it is truly amazing. I would like to thank the MFS for providing such a brilliant award and for giving young people who love the seafood industry something to strive for”.
Jordan got into the industry through his girlfriend who worked at the market.
The announcement of the winner concluded the second Master Fishmonger Standard awards ceremony which certified 18 fishmongers, covering the full range of career levels from new entrants in the industry up to the Master tier, that requires at least 10 years’ experience in the trade. The MFS, managed by The Fishmongers’ Company, certifies fishmongers with extensive professional skills and knowledge and builds on the Company’s historic role in upholding standards in the industry since 1272.
The first female Master Fishmonger, Elaine Lorys from W Stevenson & Sons, Newlyn, whose story was recently covered by BBC Cornwall, also received her certification. John Watson of C Fayre Fishmongers also received his certificate making him the first Master from Scotland. The Standard’s lifetime achievement award, the Companion Fishmonger tier, also recognised four individuals, including Francis Coakley-Greene. Born into a family of fishmongers, Francis lead a delegation during ‘The Cod Wars’, for which he later gained recognition by becoming an Honorary Freeman of the City of London.
The ceremony was hosted by Alison Freeman, Fisheries Programme Manager at the Fishmongers’ Company, and included speeches from Giles Shaw, President of the National Federation of Fishmongers, who outlined the importance of accreditation in the sector, and CJ Jackson, CEO of The Seafood School at Billingsgate.
Click here to find your nearest certified fishmonger on the Master Fishmonger Standard scheme.
© The Fishmongers’ Company 2024
