FR
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The Kingfisher Fresh Family

Kingfisher Fresh is a small company seeking to drive a positive change in Ireland’s seafood industry. Co. Wexford is our home. We work with Irish fishermen to provide 100% fresh, wild, whole seafood caught in Irish coastal waters, supplying distributors locally and internationally.

The secret to providing good quality fresh Irish fish, is commitment, hard work and passion for the industry. At the heart of it all is securing the future of our Irish fishing communities.

Brian and Michelle – Founders, Kingfisher Fresh

Meet Our team
Michelle & Family
Michelle and Brian - Kingfisher Fresh Factory

We may be small, but we get the job done the right way, using the right methods because it's the right thing to do.

Respect and care for our communities

100% Irish-owned and operated

Supporting Irish fishing families

Dedicated to a secure and sustainable fishing future

Kingfisher Fresh Team

Kingfisher Fresh was founded by Michelle & Brian. The company started with a life-long friendship, a shared vision for a responsible, sustainable industry and for supporting their local communities. 

Michelle O'Neill Founder Kingfisher Fresh
Michelle O’Neill

COMPANY DIRECTOR

Michelle’s experience in the sector spans over 16 years. Captivated by the dynamics of the industry at a young age, she worked extremely hard to develop and grow the business year on year. Michelle takes an all-hands-on deck approach to management, taking great pride in the team around her. For her, it’s about the friendships, community and the family Kingfisher Fresh creates.

Brian Everard, Founder Kingfisher Fresh
Brian Everard

COMPANY DIRECTOR

Brian got his first job in the industry at age 15. With almost 50 years in the industry, he’s seen it through good times, tough times, and all the times in-between. According to Brian, if you have a passion for the fishing industry, then it’s not really work – the Irish fishing community is what gets him up in the morning.

John O'Neill Production Manager Kingfisher Fresh
John O’Neill

PRODUCTION MANAGER 

John joined the Kingfisher team in 2008 and fast became an integral part of the company. Working across all areas of the business, John manages the day to day operations. Working closely with all our fishermen, without him, the fish goes nowhere!

Contact Us
How we got hooked…
(whose idea was it anyway?)

Our first landing was from the MFV Johnny K, on October 15th 2007.  From that date, we have grown organically. The heart of our operation is still our fishermen, some of whom have been landing at Kingfisher Fresh since we first started. We are passionate about the Irish seafood industry and driven to provide ongoing support in whatever way we can. Here’s a walkthrough of how we got hooked.

2005 - A FRIENDSHIP
A young, green Michelle joins the fishing industry in the world of Prawn processing and meets a then impossible to pin down managing director Brian Everard, and a friendship blossoms.
2005-2011
2006 - AN IDEA!
Following the near demise of the fresh Prawn sector both Brian and Michelle’s roles begin to shift into processing. With an ambition to pursue their own venture and continue working with the fishermen, they begin dreaming of the concept of Kingfisher Fresh. To this day, Michelle swears it was her idea. Brian thinks it might have been his…
2007- IT ALL STARTED WITH A TEAL VAN
Michelle resigns her position, followed by Brian shortly after, and together they establish Kingfisher Fresh. Starting with a couple of scales, an old ice machine, a forklift and a teal Volkswagen Crafter, Kingfisher Fresh Ltd handles its first landing from the MFV Johnny K, a bream trawler in her home port of Kilmore Quay.
VW van
2008 - HOLD ON TIGHT
The economy collapses, and it hits hard…but it brings out the best in the end. They enlist the help of Michelle’s brother John, who after months of helping Michelle and Brian, becomes another soul captivated by the fishing industry. This period also shows Kingfisher Fresh who the real stars are. The customers, fishermen and suppliers who supported them then are the ones they hold just as tight now.
2009 - 2010 - GETTING ESTABLISHED
Kingfisher Fresh continues to grow organically and the team work hard to slowly build the business. Assisted by Brian’s amazing negotiation skills, and Michelle’s magnificent head for financials.
Huge monkfish
2011 - WILD IRISH SEAFOOD IS WHAT WE DO BEST
New fishermen join the fleet, and the new Kingfisher Fresh logo is designed. The vision behind it and the brand is driven by Brian. “Wild Irish Seafood is what we do best”.
2012-2020
2012 - 2013 - NEW ADDITION ​
Although rapid expansion had never been the goal, for Kingfisher Fresh it was inevitable during this time. Michelle welcomed her first daughter, Caoimhe, into the world which brought on the need to manage a new priority! The facility reached maximum capacity for production space and one of their fishermen who had been there from the beginning, the Kirwans’, invested in an additional boat which also joins the KFF team.
2014 - 2015 - A NEW GENERATION AND INNOVATION ​
Kingfisher Fresh sees a need to enhance the traceability of their product. They invest in digital traceability systems. Michelle also welcomes a son Cormac into the world, who grows to become a little fishermen in the making!
2016 - 2017 - SECURING OUR HOME ​
After almost 10 years of hard work and a lot of laughter, Kingfisher Fresh breaks the lease on their rented space and buys their own premises. The biggest and proudest moment for the Kingfisher team. Michelle’s 3rd, a little lady Evie! The team invests in a complete infrastructure upgrade of their facility, including expanding capacity and investing in more energy-efficient systems. They work with their fishermen to put an environmentally friendly approach at the forefront of their operations.
2018 - SUSTAINABILITY FIRST​
Celebrating and reflecting on Brian’s milestone of 45 years in the industry, Kingfisher Fresh reviews their options to active certification which recognises their sustainability practices. Within a year, they are proud members of Bord Bia’s Origin Green program and working with fishermen to go a step above the rest in sustainability practices.
2019 - A GOLDEN MOMENT​
In 2019, the focus was on being a better company for Kingfisher Fresh customers and the fishermen. Strengthening relationships and creating strong links in their supply chain. They also land an extremely rare golden haddock which they donate to the National History Museum!
2020 - 2021 - KEEP IRELAND FISHING ​
Despite the global challenges of COVID-19 they continue to work hard with fishermen and customers to keep Ireland fishing, sustainably. It is their dream that Kingfisher Fresh will continue to work with fishermen to provide fresh, wild, Irish seafood, to customers for many years to come.
Fishing Vessel - Atlantic Rose
Learn more about us
OUR RESPONSIBILITY
OUR SEAFOOD
OUR FISHERMEN