Seafood Superstars Selling Business

Debbie and Mark Ahern have turned a lifelong love of fishing into one of Mackay’s most popular and successful seafood empires, and now the business is on the market.

Debbie’s Seafood, located at Slade Point, has not only won national awards and industry recognition, but also the dedicated custom of the Mackay community based on decades of quality product and customer service.

The couple bought their first business in Dysart in their early 20s, growing their portfolio over the years until Mark’s love of fishing drove him to become a commercial fisherman.

“He’s a good consistent worker,” said Debbie.

“Whether it was blowing 50 knots, calm or whatever, he would fish every day.”

Once Mark had finished his training and bought his own boat, he, Debbie and their daughter Natalie would go out fishing together, often for multiple days at a time, sleeping on islands and beaches.

“It was great,” said Debbie.

“I wouldn’t have changed anything.

“I loved the adventure and loved the chase of fishing, the hunt.

“They were harder times; you caught it, you processed it, you sold it, so it was long days, and it was seven days a week, but we did it happily.”

The business continued to grow into the iconic seafood powerhouse Mackay knows and loves, Natalie and her husband Craig joining the team.

Craig said the secret to the success is attention to detail and customer service.

“We are a large business but it’s still a family business and a lot of the customers are our family,” he said.

It’s a reputation they look to protect and preserve in the sale of the business.

“It’s got to be for the greater good of all,” said Debbie.

“We want to sell, but we want the people who buy it to do very well, we want the staff to do very well.

“We’re not going to walk away and cut ties.”

The business has had plenty of highlights over the years, including providing seafood for Elton John’s touring entourage in 2017, My Kitchen Rules and other high profile guests to Mackay, as well as recently being named the Australian Seafood Business of the Year.

It’s taken a lot of hard work and while Debbie, Mark, Natalie and Craig are all looking forward to a change, they will always be attached to Debbie’s Seafood.

“It’s going to be a very sad day,” said Debbie.

“It’s going to be the end of an era,” added Natalie.

“It’s a massive life event that’s coming to an end.”

Looking forward, Natalie and Craig have recently purchased a property in Gargett where they hope to establish a bed and breakfast, paddock to plate experience, while Debbie and Mark will continue to fish and hope to travel the world.

“We’re just looking forward to smelling the roses,” said Debbie.

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Daughter and mother Natalie Fitzgerald and Debbie Ahern are sad but excited about selling Debbie’s Seafood. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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