European carp tackle giant closes bait supply business

Nash Tackle – one of the largest carp fishing brands in Europe – is to close down its bait supply business.

The UK-based company announced today that its Nashbait arm will cease production at the end of August and also moved to quash the ‘rumour mill’ that has been active in recent months by delivering a defiant message.

“Nash is going nowhere, whatever the rumour mill might be saying at the minute,” said Alan Blair (pictured), the company owner in a video on its Facebook page. “This decision is only going to make Nash stronger and better.”

Addressing the decision to close Nashbait, Blair said: “This is a message I never thought I would have to be saying, but after more than 30 years we have made the very difficult decision to wind down the business.

“The truth is that it has not been profitable for a while now. Nashbait was always at a massive premium quality and we imported the highest quality ingredients we could back into the UK.

“We manufactured everything in-house and then exported the vast majority of that bait back out into Europe.

“And, what with BREXIT and a lot of red tape, it has just become too costly and no longer profitable for us.”

Blair added that Nash explored ‘every avenue’ to find a solution and came up with two choices – cut out its loyal retailers and sell direct or reduce the quality of its ingredients.

“We were not prepared to make either of those decisions,” said Blair. “We will continue to produce Nashbait up until the end of August, which means it will still be available in tackle shops. I plead with you to still support your local tackle shops until that day.

“Although I say all of this with a massive amount of sadness and heartache, we are really proud of what Nashbait has achieved in the last three or so decades. Sometimes in life you have to make difficult decisions – like this for example. It is a change of direction.

“But look at what Nash Tackle has got – amazing brands like Scope, Bank Life, Boat Life, TT, Sirens, Make It Happen Clothing and Zero Tolerance. This will allow us to make Nash bigger, better and stronger for years to come.”

In June, Angling International reported that fellow UK bait business Fox International had reached an agreement to take over the supply of bait in Europe made by CC Moore from Nash Tackle.