Seafood Business articles from April 2006

Seafood Business archives from April 2006

Market gains for M&S.(Company overview)
April 1, 2006... When Bill McCormick acquired a struggling, 80-year-old crawfish shack in 1972, even he couldn't have foreseen its evolution into a nationwide chain boasting a NASDAQ ticker symbol that has investment firms saying, "Buy!" But that's exactly...

Wegmans, Bon Appetit adopt salmon standards.(ENVIRONMENT)
April 1, 2006... Wegmans Food Markets and Bon Appetit Management Co. last month unveiled new farmed-salmon-purchasing guidelines to ensure the fish they sell is harvested and processed in an environmentally conscious and safe manner. The new standards were...

ConAgra unloads Louis Kemp.(SUPPLY)
April 1, 2006... Trident Seafoods Corp. agreed in mid-March to purchase the Louis Kemp brand of surimi seafood from ConAgra Foods. The sale is part of a larger effort by the Omaha, Neb., packaged-foods company to simplify its portfolio of brands by divesting...

Two Mississippi catfish producers consolidate.(Late NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Country Select Catfish and Delta Pride Catfish on March 9 merged to form Consolidated Catfish Producers, which will market and distribute the products of both companies. The two producers will operate their processing facilities separately, and...

MSC to certify sustainable fishmeal sources.(Late NEWS)(Marine Stewardship Council)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Marine Stewardship Council is broadening its certified-sustainable influence into the sources of fishmeal and fish oil used in organic aquaculture. In March, MSC partnered with an organic advocacy group, a fish processor and a retailer to...

Ad attacks mercury "scare stories".(Late NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom purchased a full-page ad in the March 27 issue of U.S. News & World Report to counter recent publicity about seafood being contaminated with methylmercury. Scientific research frequently cited in...

Carvalho debuts Wild Planet, 'Minimal Mercury' tuna.(Late NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Carvalho Fisheries last month launched Wild Planet, an independent seafood-marketing company. The McKinleyville, Calif., company will supply Wild Planet with wild seafood that meets particular standards for taste, nutrition, sustainability and...

Thai Union launches frozen seafood brand: Rosenberg heads Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods.(SUPPLY)
April 1, 2006... Thai Union International, which owns the Chicken of the Sea brand of canned and pouched seafood, on March 7 launched a new frozen-seafood company sporting the famous mermaid logo. Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods markets frozen shrimp,...

Trans-Ocean Products, a seafood processor in Bellingham, Wash., named Murray Brokerage of Maumee, Ohio, its 2005 broker of the year.(BIZ BRIEFS)
April 1, 2006... Trans-Ocean Products, a seafood processor in Bellingham, Wash., named Murray Brokerage of Maumee, Ohio, its 2005 broker of the year. Murray represents TransOcean's retail products in the Ohio and Michigan markets.

Rainbow trout supplier Clear Springs Foods named Arizona Sales Associates.(BIZ BRIEFS)
April 1, 2006... Rainbow trout supplier Clear Springs Foods named Arizona Sales Associates its 2005 broker of the year.

Cooke Aquaculture.(BIZ BRIEFS)
April 1, 2006... Cooke Aquaculture of St. George, New Brunswick, was recognized in February as one of Canada's 50 "best-managed" companies. It is the first aquaculture company to win the award, which was sponsored by the National Post, Deloitte, CIBC Commercial...

Carrier Transicold.(BIZ BRIEFS)
April 1, 2006... Carrier Transicold's new Deltek hybrid refrigeration technology was recognized with the Technology Achievement Award at the annual meeting of the Technology and Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Association in February.

Jack in the Box highlights two fish items during Lent: burger chain prides itself on offering customers seafood options.(FOODSERVICE)
April 1, 2006... Jack in the Box, one of the nation's largest burger chains, is promoting its two seafood menu items, the Fish 'n' Chips and Fish Filet Sandwich, through the end of April to coincide with Lent. The chain has highlighted the two menu items in...

Plitt nets Seattle distributor: deal expands Chicago company's Alaska operations.(DISTRIBUTION)
April 1, 2006... The Plitt Co. early last month purchased Newport Seafoods of Kent, Wash. Terms of the deal, which was expected to close by the end of March, were not disclosed. The acquisition will allow Plitt, a Chicago seafood distributor, to expand its...

Pan Fish acquires Marine Harvest and a stake in Fjord Seafood: salmon-farming industry continues consolidation.(AQUACULTURE)
April 1, 2006... Pan Fish agreed last month to purchase rival Marine Harvest for $1.6 billion to form the world's largest salmon-farming company. The deal, facilitated by Norwegian shipping magnate John Fredriksen, who holds a 47.3 percent stake in Pan...

Facts & figures.(News LINE)(shrimp )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... 0 Number of seafood items exceeding shrimp in U.S. per capita consumption 5 Number of entrees included in Red Lobster's Jumbo Shrimp promotion 33 Percentage of...

Convenience catches judges' eyes in Boston: Bistro Fresh, Hawaii International Seafood win IBSS product competition.(COMPETITION)
April 1, 2006... Bistro Fresh's Salmon with Kashmiri Curry Sauce and Hawaii International Seafood's Cryofresh Ahi Tuna Carpaccio won top honors for best new retail and foodservice products, respectively, in the 2006 New Products Competition at the International...

LJS adds langostino to menu: diners rave about the lobster-like morsels.(FOODSERVICE)(Long John Silver's new menu product)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Long John Silver's new Buttered Lobster Bites, introduced to the menu Feb. 27, is a big hit with the quick-service seafood chain's customers. "The promotion is off to a very, very good start," says Long John Silver's spokesman Rick...

Shrimp takes center stage at IBSS education program: divergent views collide at annual Shrimp Forum.(SUPPLY)
April 1, 2006... U.S. shrimp importers are consolidating or folding in the face of expensive, governmentimposed tariffs and bonds. Meanwhile, domestic shrimp fishermen are going bankrupt. And both industries are blaming the fallout on politics. The...

Applebee's ads support shrimp promo.(Line ITEMS)
April 1, 2006... Applebee's International in early March launched a national TV ad campaign to support its Shrimp Sensations promotion, running in restaurants nationwide. New items in the shrimp promotion include Parmesan-crusted shrimp penne pasta and a Shrimp...

Online training for Alaskans.(Line ITEMS)
April 1, 2006... Alaska's commercial fishermen and seafood processors have a new resource for honing their business skills: www.AlaskaFishBiz.org. The Web site, part of the Alaska Fisheries Business Assistance Project (FishBiz), offers information on seafood...

Gorton's introduces Shrimp Temptations: value-added products' debut timed with Lent.(RETAIL)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Gorton's introduced its new Shrimp Temptations in supermarkets nationwide in February to capitalize on Lenten demand. The frozen meals, designed as an addition to rice, pasta or vegetables, feature large shrimp in a creamy sauce in two...

DQ resumes Lenten promo: popcorn shrimp featured for third straight year.(FOODSERVICE)
April 1, 2006... The only seafood item Dairy Queen sells all year reappeared on the menu as a Lenten promotion for the third consecutive year. The Minneapolis fast-service restaurant chain is selling its popcorn shrimp baskets through the end of April, says...

Seafood Choices Alliance honors six eco-conscious buyers: EcoFish, Marks & Spencer among winners.(ENVIRONMENT)
April 1, 2006... At its first-ever Seafood Champion Awards, the Seafood Choices Alliance recognized four companies and two individuals for their commitment to advancing the sustainable-seafood movement. The awards ceremony was held at Legal Sea Foods'...

Something fishy.
April 1, 2006... "MY DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME:' GIVE A MAN A FISH, FEED HIM FOR A DAY... TEACH A MAN TO STEAL A FISH, FEED HIM FOR A LIFETIME!'"

Gulf shrimp landings take nosedive in 2005: hurricanes, fuel costs and imports all factors in sharp decline.(SHRIMP)
April 1, 2006... There is no doubt the Gulf of Mexico shrimp industry was badly harmed by last fall's active hurricane season, and the numbers are in to prove it: Gulf fishermen landed 35 percent fewer shrimp in 2005 than the year before, for a relatively...

Coho market is as consistent as ever: no major changes anticipated in farmed and wild supplies.(SALMON)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Steady's the word in the farmed- and wild-coho market, as availability and price aren't expected to differ drastically from 2005. Chilean farmers are projected to yield 78,000 metric tons of coho this year, which would be down 5 percent...

Hawaii sword fishery in jeopardy: feds mull longlining ban.(FOCUS)
April 1, 2006... Mother Nature and politics are playing a role in the potential closure of Hawaii's longline swordfish fishery, in mid-March, the Western Fishery Management Council asked the Department of Commerce to halt the harvest to protect endangered sea...

Frozen tilapia imports jump 54 percent: U.S. buys nearly 300 million pounds from Asia, Latin America.(WHITEFISH)
April 1, 2006... It's a good time to be a tilapia importer in the United States. Last year, imports of the farm-raised whitefish totaled 297.2 million pounds, a near-20 percent increase from 2004. Tilapia is now America's sixth-most-popular seafood,...

With king crab, it's a buyer's market: ample supplies, low prices drive up demand for the crustacean.(SHELLFISH)
April 1, 2006... "An excellent buy." That's the word from one king crab dealer in the Northwest, who says ample supplies of the crustacean are keeping prices down. "It's a very attractive buy right now," says the dealer. "Hopefully, we'll get king crab...

WOM marketing can bolster or bury your business.(Editor's NOTE)(word of mouth marketing )
April 1, 2006... Prior to the keynote at last month's International Boston Seafood Show, I fielded several questions about the speaker, Ken Schmidt. People wanted to know why the former director of communications for Harley-Davidson Motor Co. was chosen to...

Canada's tough course in Fish Politics 101.(one Man's: OPINION)
April 1, 2006... When Kevin Murphy took over the U.S. operations of Fishery Products International in 2002, he was a breath of fresh air, full of new ideas. A veteran of the cranberry business, Murphy's mission was to convince Canada's largest seafood company...

Antidumping tariffs hurt U.S. consumers, industry.(Trade: FORUM)
April 1, 2006... The U.S. antidumping laws were designed to protect American jobs against "unfair" foreign competitors who "dump" their products in the U.S. market at below-cost prices. So let us celebrate fresh and chilled Atlantic salmon from Norway, in which...

Langostino vs. lobster: what's the difference? As buyers turn to less expensive langostino, species identification gets muddled.(Seafood FAQ)
April 1, 2006... Long John Silver's became the latest restaurant operator to add langostino to its menu when it launched Buttered Lobster Bites as a Lenten promotion. The item's Feb. 27 debut was a big hit among the quick-service chain's patrons (see Newsline,...

More menus offer gluten-free options: seafood is a great choice for customers with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.(Trend WATCH)
April 1, 2006... For the millions of Americans who require gluten-free food, seafood is a great choice. Restaurant operators need to learn about gluten, so when customers on a gluten-free diet want seafood, they don't have to question the safety of your...

Not just one of the crowd: T.G.I. Friday's relies on fun and brassy flavors to set its seafood selections apart from the competition.(in the KITCHEN)
April 1, 2006... Polarization isn't a word most people would associate with menu planning, but at Carrollton, Texas-based T.G.I. Friday's, "big, big flavors" separate the timid diners from the brave souls who are looking for some adventure on the menu. ...

Consumers want to eat more seafood: research says quality, freshness and convenience are top purchasing criteria.(Case STUDY)
April 1, 2006... Town & Country Markets knows what Seattle's consumers want in a seafood department. For the third quarter of 2005, seafood sales at each of the company's six stores, three of which operate as Central Markets, were 17 to 55 percent ahead of the...

On with the show.(IBSS 2006 IN REVIEW)
April 1, 2006... Shuttle buses facilitated travel between the convention center and downtown hotels. A conga line formed at registration in the morning, but no one missed a beat getting into the show. Yoshizumi Ishihara, a Japanese TV celebrity, was...

Finding what you need.(IBSS 2006 IN REVIEW)
April 1, 2006... Whatever your seafood need--vacuum-packaging, lining up value-added items from U.S. catfish producers, sampling new products or just whimsical accessorizing--the International Boston Seafood Show and Seafood Processing America had you covered....

Exploring the world.(IBSS 2006 IN REVIEW)
April 1, 2006... Strolling the floor at IBSS was like a tour of the globe, with banners marking U.S. regional and state displays as well as pavilions from Canada, Europe, South America and Asia, all eager to introduce buyers to their seafood specialties. ...

Cooking up a storm.(IBSS 2006 IN REVIEW)
April 1, 2006... The seafood business is show business, and chefs kept their pans, knives, tongs and ladles moving to supply cooking tips and tempting samples. In individual companies' booths and in the Culinary Demonstration Theater, creative seafood...

It's all about fish.(IBSS 2006 IN REVIEW)
April 1, 2006... Step aside, Herbie. We'll take this finny, bewhiskered rendition of the Love Bug any day. Fish floated over the buffet tables as the National Fisheries Institute's chowder party kicked off the show Saturday night. The aquatic holding...

Future fish: companies from opposite sides of the globe bring new farmed species to prospective buyers.(New SPECIES)
April 1, 2006... Only once in a blue moon is a new seafood species introduced to the U.S. market, but buyers were lucky enough to get two in the past year--Australian barramundi and Kona Kampachi[TM]. Both were on display at last month's International Boston...

Blue mussels: expanding supplies reflect market growth for this affordable, user-friendly shellfish.(Species FOCUS)
April 1, 2006... Last year, with oyster production the Gulf Coast ravaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Hillman Shrimp and Oyster Co. scrambled to find a new item to bolster its portfolio. It didn't take long to settle on blue mussels. "The mussels...

Lingcod: the flaky, white-fleshed fish fills a niche in West Coast restaurants at either end of the dining scale.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2006... Lingcod doesn't often make its way beyond the West Coast. But there, it's a chefs' favorite, whether in a fish-and-chips basket or center-plate in a white-tablecloth setting. The lingcod, despite its name, is neither a cod nor a ling. It's...

Financial services: seafood companies have many lending and risk-management options to choose from.(Equipment FOCUS)(Company overview)
April 1, 2006... Seafood companies, big and small, often need financial services. Whether it's liability or credit insurance, accounts-receivable management or monetary lending, choosing the right company to work with could be the difference between having...

Expack Seafood.(People IN THE NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Chris Denmark joined Expack Seafood as director of purchasing for South and Central America. He brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on shrimp-aquaculture experience, most recently as operations manager for Sea Farms International in...

Market Group Ventures.(People IN THE NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Market Group Ventures of Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada, promoted Alfredo Munoz to sales manager, Latin America, for its two companies, Econofrost and Promolux Lighting International. Econofrost manufactures thermal shields for retail...

Norwood Marking Systems.(People IN THE NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Norwood Marking Systems, a Downers Grove, Ill., supplier of high-quality thermal-transfer and hot-stamp printing equipment, named Jim Striese national/international account manager. His job is to build and manage Norwood's network of...

Aqua Star.(People IN THE NEWS)(Larry Welch appointment)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Aqua Star of Seattle, one of North America's largest frozen-seafood companies, appointed Larry Welch director of quality assurance. He is responsible for ensuring adherence to all food-safety and quality-management systems in the sourcing,...

Shells Seafood Restaurants.(People IN THE NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Annamarie Balch joined Shells Seafood Restaurants as director of marketing, overseeing all marketing activities for the 25-unit Florida restaurant chain.

Gainco.(People IN THE NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Gainco, a Gainesville, Ga., manufacturer of scales, automated sorting/distribution and other yield-enhancement systems for the food-processing industry, appointed Don Esch company president. Esch replaces Larry Bettcher, who will continue to...

Future Food.(People IN THE NEWS)(Gall Brothers and Valerie Murphy appointments)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Dallas seafood-dip manufacturer/distributor Future Food recently launched an aggressive effort to expand its retail-market reach. As part of its strategy, the company appointed Gall Brothers VP of sales and Valerie Murphy director of sales in...

Hellmann Perishable Logistics.(People IN THE NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Raul Villavicencio was promoted to VP of market development for Hellmann Perishable Logistics, a Miami-based division of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics' global network of multimodal logistics services. Villavicencio was previously general manager...

Rockfish Seafood Grill.(People IN THE NEWS)(Daniel Stewart new chef)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Daniel Stewart is the new corporate chef for Rockfish Seafood Grill of Dallas. He replaces Kenny Bowers, Rockfish's executive chef since 1999. Stewart is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has spent his entire 15-year career in...

In memoriam.(People IN THE NEWS)(Obituary)
April 1, 2006... John Connors of Deep Sea Fisheries died in late February after many years' involvement in the seafood industry. He worked for Aqua Star prior to selling his own business, Arctic Gold, to Coast to Coast Seafoods, which was sold to Empress...

Gourmet butter.(COMPLEMENTS)
April 1, 2006... Odell's adds a new gourmet Seafood Butter to its Chef's Butter line. Odell's Seafood Butter, targeting upscale retail customers and specialty seafood markets, adds a rich, natural-butter flavor to cooked and fresh seafood. It is ideal for...

Crispy coating.(COMPLEMENTS)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2006... Hydroblend offers Nama Panko[TM], fresh Japanese-style breadcrumbs for foodservice, made using traditional Japanese production methods. Nama Panko features a spiky texture with a crisper bite than ordinary bread crumbs and adheres well to food...

Raised in Chile.(SHELLFISH)
April 1, 2006... Camanchaca introduces Pier 33 Gourmet Mussels[TM] for both retail and foodservice. Rope cultured in the pristine waters of southern Chile, the mussels are cleaned, graded, steamed and vacuum packed before being flash frozen to lock in freshness...

IQF clams, mussels.(SHELLFISH)
April 1, 2006... Hillman Shrimp and Oyster Co. adds whole-frozen, farm-raised white clams to its line of shellfish products for foodservice use. The hand-graded, cooked clams are sealed in 1-pound vacuum-packed bags to lock in natural flavor and are pasteurized...

Convenient clams.(SHELLFISH)
April 1, 2006... LaMonica Fine Foods introduces pre-fried clam strips, featuring hand-shucked Atlantic surf clams in a seasoned batter and breading. The frozen strips come in a 20-ounce retail box and can be baked or deep-fried for use as an appetizer, entree...

Ladle up some shrimp.(SOUP & SALAD)
April 1, 2006... Phillips Foods made two additions to its seafood-soup foodservice line. Sun-Dried Tomato Soup with Shrimp (pictured) combines sun-dried tomatoes, creamy Parmesan and Romano cheeses and premium-quality shrimp. Use as a flavorful sauce for any...

Healthful side dish.(SOUP & SALAD)
April 1, 2006... Moontide[R] seaweed salad from Sea-source lets consumers enjoy a restaurant-quality, Japanese-style side dish at home. The healthful, seasoned salad, known as goma wakame, is made in the United States and comes packed in 12.3-ounce resealable...

Less bread, more fish.(VALUE ADDED)
April 1, 2006... Trident Seafoods rolls out "The Ultimate Fish Stick," with more highquality whitefish and less breading for a tastier, healthier meal. The crispy 1-ounce sticks are designed for retail markets, family restaurants and institutional foodservice....

Seafood and 'shrooms.(VALUE ADDED)
April 1, 2006... Icelandic USA offers retailers Market Bay brand Portobello Mushroom Caps filled with chunks of lobster, lump crabmeat, Asiago and Fontina cheeses and seasonings. The all-natural 6-ounce stuffed-mushroom portion comes frozen. It is boxed...

Calendar 2006.(Calendar)
April 1, 2006... APRIL April 19-22 National Fisheries Institute Spring Conference Chateau Elan Winery & Resort Braselton, Ca. Contact Tania Olsen, NFI (703) 752-8882 www.nfi.org April 22-27 Refrigerated Warehousing &...

Christa Ingalls: Seafood commodity manager, Avendra.(One ON ONE)
April 1, 2006... Christa Ingalls has 15 years of seafood experience, but she's still inspired by the industry. The Seattle native decided last fall to switch coasts and move to Rockville, Md., to be the seafood commodity manager at Avendra. Ingalls had...