Our History
Four generations of family ownership
From an open-air stall at the Baltimore Fish Market to a full-line processor and distributor, the Welsh family has never lost sight of the values that started it all.
A family business since the late 1940s
It started at the Baltimore Fish Market
In the late 1930s, James J. Welsh Sr. began working for his brother-in-law at Reliant Fish Company, then operating out of the Baltimore Fish Market in downtown Baltimore. It was an open-market concept, where customers visited daily to hand-select their whole fish.
In the late 1940s, James J. Welsh Sr. purchased the company from his retiring brother-in-law — beginning a family ownership that continues to this day. Now in its fourth generation, Reliant Fish Company has grown into a full-line seafood processor and distributor serving the Mid-Atlantic, while keeping the same promise of quality, service, and trust in every order.
Our Journey
Decades of growth and dedication
- Late 1930s
James J. Welsh Sr. joins Reliant Fish
James J. Welsh Sr. began working for his brother-in-law at Reliant Fish Company, then operating out of the Baltimore Fish Market in downtown Baltimore.
- Late 1940s
A family takes ownership
James J. Welsh Sr. purchased the company from his retiring brother-in-law, continuing the open-market concept where customers visited daily to hand-select whole fish.
- 1950s
Delivery service begins
Reliant introduced delivery service, starting with a single truck to bring quality seafood directly to its customers.
- 1960s–1980s
Second generation and regional expansion
Patrick Welsh Sr. joined in the late 1960s and expanded delivery into Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. He took over leadership after his father's death in 1982.
- Today
Third generation, fourth generation of ownership
Under third-generation leadership, the company has grown significantly — expanding product lines, broadening its customer base, and extending regional delivery to widen its footprint — while introducing value-added services like specialized processing and custom cuts. Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, we continue to grow, guided by the same founding values that built this business: quality, service, and trust.
Through the Years
From our archives
Current Management
The third generation at the helm
The second generation joined in the late 1960s and led the company forward after the founder's passing in 1982. Today, the third generation guides Reliant Fish Company into its fourth generation of family ownership — carrying the same commitment to quality, service, and trust that has defined the company from the start.
Where We Deliver
Serving the Mid-Atlantic
From our facility at 7701 Assateague Drive, Jessup, MD 20794, we deliver fresh seafood on our own trucks throughout the region we have served for generations. Beyond our immediate delivery area, we freight product to customers across the country.
Immediate Delivery Area — Our Trucks
- Baltimore
- Washington, D.C.
- Northern Virginia
- Richmond & surrounding areas
- Annapolis
- Maryland's Eastern Shore
- Delaware
- Pennsylvania
Nationwide freight. Outside our immediate delivery area, we freight product to customers across the country.
Become part of our next chapter
Join the restaurants, markets, and distributors who have trusted Reliant Fish Company for generations.