A Dorset-based cannery dedicated to premium canned British fish is expanding thanks to a total of £78,600 in funding from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme, with support from its partner SWIG Finance.
A Dorset-based cannery dedicated to premium tinned British fish is expanding
Sea Sisters was founded during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 by couple Charlotte Dawe and Angus Cowen. During their fortnightly lockdown shopping trips for store cupboard goods – including canned fish – they noticed that none of the products they found were canned in England or used British fish.
That sparked the start of their canned food journey, and the business was created with a focus on preserving high-quality British fish using traditional methods, while supporting sustainable, low-impact fisheries, female fishers and UK aquaculture.
The investment has helped Sea Sisters establish its cannery, extend its range of preserved British seafood products and create 15 local jobs.
Based in Bridport, Sea Sisters produces a range of handcrafted British Conservas using seasonal British seafood, including Cornish sardines, Norfolk whelks, Welsh cockles and oak-smoked rainbow trout. Products are prepared and preserved by hand in small batches using carefully developed recipes inspired by ingredient-led cooking.
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He said: “From the beginning we wanted to celebrate British seafood and create something that combined traditional preservation techniques with modern flavours and clear provenance. It has been a huge journey building a craft cannery and developing our own range of conservas here in Dorset. The support from Start Up Loans and SWIG Finance has been a vital part of that.”
The company says sustainability is central to its approach, with seafood sourced from fisheries using low-impact fishing methods from abundant stocks and all its plastic-free packaging is fully recyclable.
The name ‘Sea Sisters’ was inspired by the founders’ two daughters and the importance of family, sisterhood and togetherness.
The couple received two initial Start Up Loans of £25,000 each
Sea Sisters worked closely with SWIG Finance Senior Start Up Loans Manager Jo MacEachan during the application process.
Charlotte said: “Jo has always supported us and helped us to become the success that we are. Without her help and that of the wonderful SWIG Finance team in general, we would not have been able to build the cannery and employ our brilliant team.”
Sea Sisters worked closely with SWIG Finance Senior Start Up Loans Manager Jo MacEachan during the application process.
Sea Sisters will always be an application I remember with fondness and I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
They’ve embraced and chased every opportunity, and their workforce family are something special.
Sea Sisters products are available online at www.seasisters.co.uk and through a growing network of independent retailers, delis and food outlets across the UK.
For more information about SWIG Finance and the Start Up Loans programme, visit www.swigfinance.co.uk or call 01872 227 930.
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About SWIG Finance
SWIG Finance is a people-based lender that provides loans and support to help smaller businesses in the South and West Country grow. We base our lending decisions on potential rather than collateral, which means that we can often support businesses when others can't.
We’re growing every year. In 2024/25, we lent £14.8m to 501 businesses, helping to create and secure over 1,272 jobs and generate £75.7m in social impact. Download the report here.
If you’d like an informal chat about your funding requirements, get in touch with our friendly and professional team to see how we can help: info@swigfinance.co.uk / 01872 227 930