Our Heritage - Sanford Fishmonger

As New Zealand’s oldest seafood company we’ve honed our craft over more than 150 years. With generations of expertise in sustainably catching, growing, and supplying beautiful New Zealand seafood, we make sure only the best lands on your plate for you to enjoy.

GENERATIONS OF KNOWLEDGE

More than 150 years ago, our founder went fishing for snapper and formed plans for a business that would ultimately grow into New Zealand’s biggest seafood company. This is how it all began…

1864

Albert Sanford arrived in Auckland and soon started fishing for snapper in the Hauraki Gulf.

1894

Sanford opened his first fish market on the corner of Albert and Customs Streets in Auckland.

1904

Sanford cemented fishing as the family business, bringing his sons on board and establishing a company.

1905 – 1920s

Sanford continued to grow, with a fleet of boats, trucks, 20 fish shops, two restaurants and a fish curing plant.

1930s – 1940s

WWII broke out; Sanford’s fleet of trawlers were commandeered and all but four fish shops closed down.

1950 –1970s

Post-war Sanford Ltd expanded again by forming partnerships with other fishing companies around New Zealand.

1985

Sanford Ltd began pioneering aquaculture in Aotearoa with three mussel farms.

2014

Collaborated to create first-of their-kind Precision Seafood Harvesting nets that reduce bycatch and are gentler on fish we do catch.

TODAY

Sanford has 225 aquaculture farms, a fleet of 41 vessels, employs more than 1,400people and showcases a huge range of seafood at its flagship fish market in Auckland.

Sanford and Sons Fishmonger today

Sitting on the site Albert Sanford built in 1904, Sanford and Sons Fishmonger is our flagship store within the Auckland Fish Market, that has been proudly showcasing New Zealand seafood since the very beginning. Our team are passionate about sharing their skills and knowledge about the incredible variety of fresh fish and seafood available that’s come straight from the docks. Today, it’s surrounded by a variety of bustling eateries offering the very best of the local food scene with something for everyone to enjoy.

sanford and sons today in auckland fish market

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Heritage