WHILE most teenagers these days head to university after completing their A-levels, this driven Tyne Valley youngster is starting up his own seafood business.

And 18-year-old Alexander Vassallo, who lives near Corbridge, is following the successful blueprint created by his astute father Peter, who turned Cumbrian Seafoods into a multi-million pound business.

The family name is synonymous with seafood in the UK, and Alexander is stepping forward to become the third generation in the trade through his new company Lauder Fine Foods, specialising in the highest quality smoked salmon.

It all started back in 1947 when his grandfather opened a fish shop in Tyneside, and then spiralled when his father convinced the major supermarkets that fish was a must-stock line.

When Peter retired in 2011, he was head of the most successful private company in the industry.

Alexander said: “My dad went from no million to £164m in 13 years, so I have pretty big shoes to fill!

“I’m always up for a challenge and I’m very fortunate that my dad was a big player in the seafood industry, and that allows me to approach places others may not have be able to.

“My dad has always been my role model between birth and now, and my life has followed the same track as his.

“He was ordered by the doctors to have a more relaxing time after a double heart attack, so I’m taking it upon myself to revitalise his successful business and start over again by rebranding it as Lauder Fine Foods.”

The premise of the business is to acquire the finest smoked salmon from Scotland and supply it to the local area, but also nationally. In the new year, Alexander is targeting the profitable Chinese market.

And recent feedback from the best in the business suggests he is already onto a winner.

Alexander said: “Smoked salmon has been known as the king of fish for hundreds of years, and my dad invested heavily in it and his salmon was award-winning.

“We recently had an independent, blind taste test with a Michelin star chef and a top panel of chefs, against all the other top salmon producers in the UK and Northern Ireland, and ours come out on top.

“That proved to me that our product is premium quality, and I’m confident in saying ours is the best in the UK.”

A university degree may still be on the cards for Alexander depending on how trade goes in the next nine months or so, but being his own boss is something the ambitious teen has always strived for.

And it was a big decision to turn his attention to the fish market, as he was showing huge potential in rally driving.

Following in his father’s footsteps again – Peter was Scottish national champion many years ago –Alexander was regarded as the UK’s best young driver and described by five-times British rally champion Jimmy McRae as the ‘one to beat’.

His junior career ended at the highest possible point after taking four national titles in the space of three years.

He claimed the British title in 2012, and was the winner of the 1000 Ecosse Challenge for three years running from 2012 to 2014 .

But the pull of going into business, which he studied at A-level, was too strong.

He said: “For a five-year period when I was doing motosport and winning national rally championships, I really wanted to make it a career.

“But it’s a very expensive sport and you really need somebody to back you financially.

“I didn’t quite get the break with the rallying, so I’m concentrating on growing the business and, once the company is in full flow, then I may go back to driving.”

Alexander is busy putting the finishing touches to his website www.lauderfinefoods.co.uk and next year will look to expand into supplying game.