AN AMBITIOUS seafood supremo who put his heart and sole into running a fresh fish business for 20 years has hooked his Cotswold customers.

Tim Boyd began New Wave Seafoods back in 1989 at the age of 23 in a stable behind his parent's house in Poulton with only a chest freezer and a second-hand van.

In two decades the business has grown and Tim now supplies his fresh fish and shellfish to top restaurants and hotels including Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat.

Today New Wave Seafoods occupies four units at the Horcott Industrial Estate in Fairford with over 40 employees and some 11 vans which go out every morning to deliver the freshest fish across the Cotswolds.

It was the first seafood company in the UK to source fresh produce on the internet - straight from the British ports.

This direct on-line buying, combined with contacts all over the UK coastline, meant Tim had the pick of the catch.

"It is quite a hard industry because it is specialist and we have gone through a difficult year in the downturn," he said.

"But our strong point is we are amongst our customers and on their doorstep."

He also praised his staff, with some working for the business for more than ten years.

On top of offering a huge variety of fish at the shop in Cirencester's Market Place, the company can deliver fresh Cornish fish and shellfish six days a week.

They also offer seasonal produce such as asparagus, Parma ham and wild mushrooms, which accounts for a third of its business.

Mr Boyd said he was lucky to tap into the boom in the food industry in the late 1990s.

"It was a case of right place right time. We did really well when the gastro pubs took off and the cookery shows became popular on TV," he said.

New Wave Seafoods now supplies to 350 hotels and restaurants, covering nine counties.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the business, staff enjoyed a seafood bash at Poulton House Gardens last weekend.