Port Washington Couple Delivers British Smoked Salmon To America

PORT WASHINGTON, NY —The challenges of the coronavirus pandemic presented a unique business opportunity for Port Washington couple Simon and Stacey Joseph. They had been importing a small amount of British smoked salmon for themselves and friends, and as the demand for the product grew, the couple decided to launch a full business, that they called Across the Pond.

Simon Joseph told Patch his existing business—doing IT for events and schools—was hard hit by the pandemic.

"Work wasn't great so I needed to swivel quickly. We had to do something so we decided to make it a company."

Joseph's lifelong friends own Goldstein Smoked Salmon in the U.K., so the Josephs partnered with them to import the British product, which is different from its American counterpart.

"The main difference is less salt. It's still cured in the old-fashioned way, with no added sugar, no additives," Simon Joseph explained.

Farmed Atlantic salmon from Norway and Scotland is used, a variety of farmed fish that is raised in a natural way and held to higher standards than much of the farmed salmon imported into America.

The fresh product has a shorter shelf life than the more preservative-laden varieties. The Jospehs put their order in on Sunday, and within 24 hours the smoked salmon is in their refrigerator ready to be parceled out for home or mail delivery the next day.

"In the U.K. it's common to have home delivery of smoked salmon weekly, almost like the milkman used to be," Stacy Joseph said.

Across the Pond is continuing that tradition with concierge-style home delivery to northern Nassau customers. Anyone further afield gets the product shipped.

The company is growing through word of mouth, social media and media mentions, the couple say, and many are drawn to the healthy nature of the Kosher product and the fresh, buttery taste.

The Josephs may add more British products to the business down the line but for now they want to focus on growing the smoked salmon importing.

And they are enjoying how the direct customer service is connecting them to their neighbors.

"We've been living here for so many years and we are talking to so many more people now," Stacey Joseph reflected.