news & events

Jacques Gonidec Canned Sardines - 1^st Sep 2016

New on our shelves this month are canned sardines from France. Sardines are migratory fish. To be canned, the sardines must be of the right size, neither too big nor too thin. The team at Jacques Gonidec goes fishing for sardines in the ports of the Atlantic or the Mediterranean. Upon arrival at Jacques Gonidec's production factory, the sardines are immersed in a salt and ice water bath. This brining process firms up the sardines. Next comes the gutting. Forty production workers gut each sardine by hand. 

The sardines are then placed on racks and showered with clean water before being sent to a larger dryer. They are then left overnight before they are canned the next day with oil. Spices and condiments are placed in the cans before the sardines. The entire preparation process requires much time, labour, dedication and attention and it is this time consuming process that makes the canned sardines from Jacques Gonidec different from the rest. 

Available for purchase now:

Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Lemon
Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Onion Sauce
Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Lemon Confit
Sardines with Butter and Sea Salt from Guerander
Small Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Lemon & Chilli