Blue Seas Food Services boss Colin Passfield has survived three recessions but says 2021 is the worst year he has experienced after 40 years in the food service distribution business.

The company normally supplies 450 to 500 food service businesses in Greater Sydney every week with fresh, frozen and packaged food. But for the past 11 weeks more than half of his customers have been closed under NSW lockdown rules, sales have fallen 65 to 70 per cent and most of his 20 staff have been stood down.