Fiskmarkađur Íslands hf. (FMI ltd.) was founded after the merger of Fiskmarkađur Breiđafjarđar hf. and Faxamarkađurinn hf. The company is still Iceland’s biggest fish market and approximately 50% of all sold quantity on icelandic fishmarkets go through FMI ltd.
The company has eight branch offices: in Thorlakshofn, Reykjavik, Akranes, Arnarstapi, Rif, Olafsvik, Grundarfjordur and Stykkisholmur. The headquarters are in Olafsvik, which is also the biggest single receptioncenter.
The bulk of the catch sold in FMI comes from smaller fishing boats and the daily catch is sold before unloading. Thus the freshness and quality of the fish is high. In landing it is ensured that the fish is properly iced and placed in isolated fish tubs; furthermore the fish temperature is taken and recorded.
After unloading the fish is classified and weighted, then iced again and delivered to the buyers, usually the same night it is caught. Auctions take place at noon every day and the buyers can attend auctions in 30 diffrent places all over the country. In the middle of 2003 a new auctions system called “Fisknet” was taken into use. Auctions are held online and buyers can connect to the auction network through their computers from all over the world.
FMI. has implemented a quality control and hazard analysis system based on HACCP.
The quality system consists of control programs for hygiene, cleaning, quality control for raw materials and pest control.
All these factors are supervises daily and registered according to a quality manual.
File Management:
All files concerning weighing are kept for at least 2 years and are in safekeeping by the head of the local branch. Other files concerning accounting are kept by the office manager and are kept for at least 5 years.
Claims / Complaints:
Claims about the quality of a product already delivered must be made within 24 hours after delivery and are registered by filling out a claims notification form.
When applicable both buyer and seller are contacted to discuss the claim and decide which arrangements are to be made. The conclusion and the actions agreed upon are registered on the claims notification form and saved.
Traceability of products:
In reception the catch of every boat is weighted according to type and registered on the correct weighing form, while every stack has individual auction number.
Before the auction a receipt is printed out for each buyer, specifying stack number, name of boat, price and quantity. At delivery the number of the fish tub in the stack is filled out manually on the receipt.
A copy of the receipt is enclosed with the product to the buyer; FMI keeps the original.
All entries are kept for at least two years.
