Frequently Asked Questions

Products

Do You Only Sell Frozen Seafood?

We do indeed. We believe frozen offers great quality. Often seafood is frozen just hours after catch to lock in freshness. Chefs up and down the country agree.

Why Do You Specialise In Fish?

Good question. It’s never easy sourcing quality fish and seafood from across the globe but it is in our DNA!

Sykes Seafood was established in 1862 by trading in wet fish and Dutch shrimp. Since then we have perfected where we source from and the species of product we sell. Today, with our own factory facilities, we specialise in supplying a wide range of high quality fish and seafood to a variation of market sectors. If you want to read more about our heritage or where we source from please refer to our About Us page.

How Do I Know If Your Products Will Be Good?

We have been established for 150 years and over that time have grown to become one the UK’s pre-eminent suppliers of quality fish and seafood. Each day we supply our seafood to chefs up and down the UK as well as fishmongers and multi-national retailers. In many instances, we produce our own seafood in our UK based factories. Quality control is of paramount importance to us.

Where Is Your Seafood Sourced?

We source from all over the world. Sykes Seafood is over 150 years old, so we have a huge amount of experience and knowledge in sourcing the best quality, sustainable fish from around the world. Where possible, we source closer to home but we only ever source from origins where quality and sustainability are at the forefront of the supply chain.

Are Your Products Raw Or Cooked?

We sell both. This is clearly marked on the product description pages on the website. Product that has already been cooked can be thawed and served. It could not be simpler. All of our cooked products are either cooked on vessels at sea immediately after catch, or in our own state-of-the-art factories which are governed to the highest food safety accreditations.

How Do I Prepare Your Products To Cook?

Most of the products we sell are pre-prepared and ready to use. The fish is sold in fillets or portions, with either the skin-on or off and the shellfish either in their shell, or with the shell removed. Please read the product description to understand how the fish needs to be prepared. In most cases the preparation, if required, is much easier than you think.

What Is Glaze?

Glaze is a protective coating of ice on frozen product, used to prevent dehydration and preserve the aesthetics of the product. Without some level of glaze products would be become freezer burnt when stored. Once defrosted, the glaze falls away from the product, so when defrosting please make sure the fish placed in a plastic container or plate in your fridge to prevent spills.

Is Your Packaging Recycled Or Recyclable?

Our cardboard boxes and space fillers are 100% widely recycled via kerbside collections.

The insulated liner is reusable, as per the details in your box. We chose this instead of the equivalent which was approximately 55mm of Polystyrene. Polystyrene is classed as a ‘problem plastic’ and difficult to recycle. By using the silver bags, we are contributing to the elimination of difficult-to-recycle plastic.

What Do I Do With The Packaging Once I Have Stored My Seafood?

The insulated liner can be reused, as per the insert in your parcel. You can store frozen food from the supermarket in this liner for the journey home.

Why Do You Use Dry Ice?

To ensure your order is delivered in a frozen state, we include dry ice packs in your box. Through product testing, we decided this was the best form of freezer-pack to ensure the products remains frozen from leaving our coldstore factory to arriving at your door.

Dry ice is perfectly safe to use, but must be handled carefully. Wear protective gloves when handling, and avoid prolonged contact. An oven mitt or towel will also work. To dispose of the dry ice, leave in a well ventilated room at room temperature, until the dry ice has completely sublimated.

What If My Order Has Started To Defrost?

Even with the inclusion of dry ice packs, we cannot guarantee that your product will arrive 100% frozen. If your products have started to defrost, don’t worry. You are safe to refreeze it. The dry ice ensures that it remains below 8°C, therefore it’s fine to put it straight back in the freezer.

What Is The Best Way To Safely Defrost My Order?

We suggest you defrost in a refrigerator overnight, or for a minimum of 8-10 hours.

Some of our products can be cooked from frozen. Keep an eye out for the recipes.

Why Does A Vac Pack Have An Odour?

Vacuum packaged fish results in a tasty and superior product when it is prepared, we believe it is the best way to store and keep frozen fish.

Vacuum packaging keeps the fish from drying out by preventing water loss. Vacuum packaging is used because it allows for an extended shelf life in the freezer by reducing odours and texture changes which may result in spoilage. This may mean that when you defrost your fish in these packs, you may notice a slight smell when opening. Don’t worry, this is normal. Leave the pack open for 5 minutes. Any odour present will quickly disappear.

Do You Have A Minimum Order Value?

We do. Our minimum order value is £30, excluding any postage charges.

Delivery

Where Do You Deliver?

We deliver our frozen fish and seafood throughout the UK, with a few exceptions.

Unfortunately we are currently unable to deliver orders to Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, Isle of Wight, all Scottish Islands, Highlands and North of Falkirk.

How Much Do You Charge For Delivery?

We offer FREE next day day delivery on all orders over £50 and £3.50 for orders under £50 placed before 1pm. For orders placed after 1pm your order will be dispatched on the next working day for overnight delivery.

If you would like a Saturday delivery these are charged at £10 and orders must be placed by 1pm on Friday.

For more information visit our delivery page.

How Will My Order Be Delivered?

Your order will be delivered by one of our selected delivery partners. All deliveries are shipped from us on overnight services to ensure that the product maintains its frozen state. You will have the option to leave the order in a safe place if you are not at home. Please ensure the box is not left out for more than 4 hours of the original delivery time. If there is any issue with your delivery please get in contact with us as quickly as possible.

When Will My Order Be Delivered?

There’s nothing worse than missing a delivery, so we have given all customers the choice of when to have their order delivered. At the checkout, you will need to select a chosen delivery day.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure your delivery arrives on your nominated day, in rare circumstances our delivery partner may not make it to you in time. If your delivery is not made on the day you have requested, please get in contact with us and we will put things right. Our delivery system is guaranteed to keep your fish and seafood order nice and chilly for up to 30 hours after it’s left our warehouse.

What If I Am Not In When My Order Is Due To Be Delivered?

That’s fine. When placing your order, at the checkout, leave a note in the ‘Notes’ instructions box telling us where you would like your parcel to be left.

We are able to deliver to work addresses, if that’s easier.

Can I Change The Date Of My Delivery?

Before 1pm on the day before your delivery is due, we can absolutely juggle things about to change the delivery date, but if it’s after 1pm, we won’t be able to unfortunately. However should you have a specific requirement please contact us and we will try to help.

Returns

Do You Accept Returns?

Due to the perishable nature of our products I’m afraid we don’t accept returns. In the unlikely event you have received an incorrect item in your order please contact us. If there are any other queries, our customer service team are on hand to help.

What If I Have An Issue With My Order?

If you have an issue with an order you have received, please email us at chef@seafoodbysykes.com explaining the issue, attaching any supporting images, and we will look into this. Please allow 24 hours working hours for a response.