Why we invested in Derby: Ocean King

Two years ago, Asian restaurant supplier Ocean King moved its operations to Derby, investing £5 million in the process. Since then, it has flourished. Here, in his own words, chief executive Steven Thai explains why the business chose Derby and how the firm has now settled in “for the long haul”.

We started Ocean King nearly 30 years ago. No grand strategy, no deep pockets, just a relentless work ethic, a strong family bond and a belief that if we stayed consistent and did things properly, opportunity would follow.

We began in Newcastle-under-Lyme, then moved to Loughborough as we grew.

But it was only two years ago that we made our biggest move yet – a £5 million investment into Derby, where we’ve now settled for the long haul.

We chose Derby for practical reasons—strong logistics links, affordable space, and access to a reliable, hardworking workforce.

But what’s kept us here is more than geography.

We fled persecution in Vietnam in 1979 and were welcomed by the UK.

So, when it came to building our company, it wasn’t about just finding a warehouse – it was about planting roots.

Derby gave us that. We started from a garage and a truck, just me and my parents working 17-hour days, seven days a week.

Today, we’re a national foodservice business supplying Asian restaurants across the UK, with a facility in Victory Park and a retail expansion in the pipeline.

We’ve invested heavily over the years – both in people and infrastructure. New cold stores, a state-of-the-art ERP system, and a growing team with plans to expand further.

We’ve also installed 520 solar panels on our site – part of our push towards long-term sustainability and smarter energy use.

The foundations are in place, and the future is wide open.

Marketing Derby, Derby City Council and the University of Derby have been welcoming and supportive.

That support has turned our mission – creating opportunities, enriching lives – into real action.

We’re especially excited about our Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the university.

It gives us access to academic insight and graduate talent to improve our business and strengthen our community.

What makes this partnership meaningful is its impact.

We’ve also collaborated with the BA Fine Arts students who designed our “Door of Opportunities” mural, a visual symbol of our social mobility mission, alongside practical initiatives like mentoring pipelines and apprenticeship pathways.

We’re best known for prawns — and proud of it. Our Viet Star brand is our premier range, setting the standard for quality and consistency.

White Tiger offers a value-led alternative without compromise.

And our Thai Style brand delivers authentic Southeast Asian flavours that chefs trust.

After all, I’ve been affectionately called “The Prawn King” — and we’ve earned that crown by doing things the right way.

Today, we supply everything from Fairy washing-up liquid to rapeseed oil, jasmine rice to noodles, and even British Red Tractor tomahawk steaks and Wagyu Beef.

We’re not just a seafood business anymore—we’re a full-service partner to some of the best Asian kitchens in the UK.

What’s next? We’re investing in automation, AI, and better systems.

But more importantly, we’re asking ourselves a bigger question: how can we make you better by walking through the doors of Ocean King? Whether you’re a supplier, customer, or part of our team, we want your life to improve because of how we do business.

You don’t forget where you’ve been. For us, Derby is where we’ve built something to last – with heart, purpose, and people at the centre.