Namibian Home of Lucky Star Pilchards
Etosha Fishing is the proud Namibian home
of Lucky Star Pilchards. Lucky Star canned pilchards have been a favourite
South African brand for over 50 years. With the leading market share in the
South African market, Lucky Star canned pilchards are available throughout
Southern Africa.
Sea
Our pilchards are caught in large
quantities by specialised fishing vessels operating close to the shoreline. Our
vessels employ the highly efficient purse-seine fishing technology, which
ensures optimal yields of quality and quantity.
Harvesting
Our Pilchards are harvested by a fleet
comprising both steel and wooden hulled vessels, according to strict government
quotas. The pilchard biomass varies constantly with
changing regional and global weather conditions, fluctuations in biological and
environmental conditions, and changes in sea temperatures and variations in
plankton concentrations. Oceana has earned and qualifies for a substantial
share in the long-term fishing rights granted in South African and Namibian
waters.
Transporting
Our pilchards are kept in refrigerated
holds, in cold sea water, or on ice as they are transported back to the factory
either directly by vessel or by a combination of vessel and refrigerated road
transport. In order to ensure optimum freshness, yields and quality; the
cleaning, processing and canning is all done in the shortest time possible of
the vessels arriving at the quayside.
Production
Cannery personnel manage automated
processes of cleaning, heading, tailing and gutting the fish. The fish are
automatically put into cans and subjected to a double cooking and sterilisation
process. This ensures cooked-in freshness, product safety, excellent taste and
shelf life. (All Lucky Star production facilities in both South Africa and
Namibia are HACCP compliant.)
Labelling
During the canning process each can is
marked with a predetermined code to ensure traceability throughout its progress
in the value chain. The cans are labelled with the well-recognised Lucky Star
label and packed in customer-friendly outer multiples using the most modern shrink-wrapping
technology.
Testing
In addition to the most stringent in-house
testing procedures, all batches of canned pilchards are sampled and tested
independently by the South African Bureau of Standards against set organoleptic
and microbiological standards before being allowed onto the supermarket
shelves.
Distribution
The marketing infrastructure of Lucky Star
canned pilchards allows the most comprehensive distribution and warehousing in
Southern Africa, exposing the product to consumers universally in all regions
and in every trading sector.
Plate
Lucky Star canned pilchards are delicious
hot or cold and, because they have already been cooked in the can, it is only
necessary to reheat them before serving.
