One of the major quick-service restaurants (QSRs) in Nigeria, Tantalizers Plc, has acquired 10 fully equipped modern trawlers to boost commercial fishing operations in the country.
The vessels would be operated by the fishing arm of the company, Tantalizers Fisheries Limited.
The QSR is venturing into the blue economy landscape as part of its diversification strategy aimed at leveraging new growth opportunities across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.
To take charge of the ecosystem, Tantalizers has signed a partnership deal with a renowned US-based marine group and consortium led by Mr Charles Quinn.
The collaboration will establish a framework for technical collaboration, operational capacity building, and export market access, all of which will strengthen Tantalizers’ position in the evolving Nigerian blue economy space.
The partnership will also involve technology transfer, compliance with global best practices in sustainable fishing, and adherence to international seafood processing standards, ensuring Nigerian seafood products meet global export requirements.
The American fisheries consortium has decades of experience in sustainable fishing, seafood processing, and is a global distributor of prawns, shrimps, and scallops, among others.
Tantalizers disclosed in a statement that the 10 trawlers, fitted with modern technology to support deep-sea fishing operations, should be delivered to Nigeria from their current base in Honduras and New Bedford, USA by May 2025.
“This acquisition and partnership will transform Tantalizers Plc into a Nigerian multinational and deepen our in-road to a fully diversified foodtainment conglomerate with interests spanning entertainment,quick-service restaurant chain, fisheries, seafood processing and export,” the Managing Director of Tantalizers, Mr Rob Speijer, said.
On his part, Mr Quinn said, “Nigeria has always been on our mind as a good source of protein for the American market, this partnership and delivery of initial 10 trawlers provides us with strong foot hold into the rich aquatic resources in the West African Ocean.”