Plans submitted to transform former Glasgow City Centre fishmonger into Afro-Caribbean supermarket

A new Afro-Caribbean supermarket could be opened on the site of a former fishmongers in Glasgow city centre after new plans were submitted.

C.O International, which has a store in Manchester, has asked Glasgow City Council for permission to convert a building on Howard Street.

Previously occupied by seafood firm Bernard Corrigan, the property would be turned into a supermarket based on “cuisine and produce of Afro-Caribbean origin”.

Plans submitted on behalf of the applicant company state the change would introduce a “new and exciting retail outlet into this sector of the city”.

They added: “It is worth noting that the only other city with this outlet is Manchester and the owners chose Glasgow because the demographics were appropriate and they believe that their product will contribute to the rich ethnic mix in the city.”

Opening hours would be 7am to 8pm seven days a week, if the application is approved. Alterations would be made to the frontage of 184 to 200 Howard Street to “create a more welcoming entrance to the new store”. 

However, the plans add: “When occupied by Corrigons, while essentially a wholesale operation, there was a substantial element of sales direct to the public, so the concept of a retail outlet is not entirely new.

“The applicant already has a thriving business in Manchester but apparently a large part of the business derives income from customers in Scotland, hence the desire to open an outlet in Glasgow.”