Seafood Business articles from August 2008

Seafood Business archives from August 2008

Sustainability a shared responsibility.(Editor's Note)
August 1, 2008... Last month I attended the Alaska Seafood Forum on Sustainability in Anchorage hosted by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). Alaska is a prime example where third-party certification may not be needed to ensure buyers a product comes...

Clarification.(Editor's Note)(Correction notice)
August 1, 2008... In the July issue (People, p. 38) James Donald "Don" Mason of Trans-Ocean Products was accidentally referred to as James Mason instead of Don Mason.

U.S. seafood consumption drops in 2007: Americans ate 16.3 pounds of seafood per capita last year.(supply)
August 1, 2008... Americans didn't devour quite as much seafood in 2007 as they did the previous year. U.S. per capita seafood consumption slipped from 16.5 pounds in 2006 to 16.3 pounds last year, the National Marine Fisheries Service reported in mid-July....

Whole Foods bolsters farm criteria: retailer builds on internal seafood standards.(retail)
August 1, 2008... Whole Foods Market announced in mid-July that it's requiring its farmed-seafood suppliers to undergo an independent, third-party audit against new internal aquaculture standards to ensure environmental and social responsibility. The...

Study touts fish for heart health: Mozaffarian: seafood is medicine, not just dinner.(health)
August 1, 2008... Fish and its omega-3 fatty acids should be considered more than just a healthy part of a diet, but among the most important treatments for coronary heart disease (CHD) and sudden cardiac death (SCD), says a Harvard assistant professor of...

The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board has received a $600,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(Biz BRIEFS)
August 1, 2008... The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board has received a $600,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help fund the Great American Seafood Cook Off in New Orleans this month and for several years to come....

Private-equity firm Fenway Partners has acquired a majority interest in Preferred Freezer Services.(Biz BRIEFS)
August 1, 2008... Private-equity firm Fenway Partners has acquired a majority interest in Preferred Freezer Services. John Galiher, Preferred's founder and CEO, and senior management will continue to run the company and retain an approximate 25 percent ownership...

Phillips Foods announced a two-year partnership with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, Del.(Biz BRIEFS)
August 1, 2008... Phillips Foods announced a two-year partnership with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, Del., to feature a branded Phillips Seafood Restaurant concept throughout the property.

Surimi seafood marketer Trans-Ocean Products has signed a deal with Information Resources.(Biz BRIEFS)
August 1, 2008... Surimi seafood marketer Trans-Ocean Products has signed a deal with Information Resources to track its retail sales data.

Cooke Aquaculture.(Biz BRIEFS)
August 1, 2008... Cooke Aquaculture has received a $3 million provincial loan to restructure its business and become more competitive.

True Worlds Food Raleigh.(Biz BRIEFS)
August 1, 2008... True Worlds Food Raleigh has signed an 11-year lease at a site in Concord, N.C., to be used as a distribution facility for fresh seafood and related products.

Shrimp tapped for third-party certification: FDA seeks independent certifiers to participate in pilot project.(food safety)
August 1, 2008... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is tapping the shrimp-farming industry to help it draft guidance for third-party certification programs to ensure certified products meet its requirements. The agency is currently seeking independent...

Shells updates menu, cuts prices: casual seafood chain pushes variety, value.(foodservice)
August 1, 2008... Shells Seafood Restaurants in early July rolled out a menu featuring more than 20 new items and reduced prices. The Tampa, Fla.-based casual seafood chain, with 23 restaurants in the state, is trying to overhaul its image by emphasizing...

So. Korean firm acquires StarKist: Dongwon Enterprise seeks globalization.(supply)
August 1, 2008... Del Monte Foods Co. in late June agreed to sell its StarKist seafood brand to a South Korean company for $363 million. The San Francisco company, which will focus on its higher margin produce and pet food products, said that because of a...

Monterey Bay Aquarium.(Line ITEMS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Monterey Bay Aquarium has removed California and Oregon witd salmon from its Seafood Watch guide of sustainable seafood species. Additionally, Atlantic herring and sardines were downgraded from best choices to good alternative; striped marlin...

The 2008 Sofi Award winners were announced at the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade's 54th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York.(Line ITEMS)(Awards list)
August 1, 2008... The 2008 Sofi Award winners were announced at the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade's 54th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York. Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co. received gold awards for its Smoked Scallop Lobster Bisque in the...

Legal Sea Foods.(Line ITEMS)
August 1, 2008... Legal Sea Foods was named the most family-friendly restaurant by Parents magazine. The Boston chain eliminated trans fats, tests tuna and swordfish for mercury levels and cooks non-seafood items on a separate grill due to shellfish allergies.

Dietary experts rebuff tilapia study: inflammation guru questions tilapia's healthful benefits.(health)
August 1, 2008... A coalition of 14 dietary specialists last month refuted a study that claimed farmed tilapia contains a potentially hazardous balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for heart patients vulnerable to inflammation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

U.S. fisheries earn passing grade: seven stocks no longer subject to overfishing.(supply)
August 1, 2008... U.S. fisheries received their annual report card in late June, and the news is encouraging: Seven fish stocks are no longer subject to overfishing, and no new fish stocks were added to the overfishing list, according to the National Marine...

Proposed farm rule stirs controversy: Ocean Stewards Institute supports measure.(aquaculture)
August 1, 2008... The Bush administration in early July proposed a rule authorizing the Minerals Management Service to issue leases, easements and rights of way for fish farms in federal waters. The proposed rule drew a lot of criticism from the...

Creole cuisine.(Off THE SHELF)
August 1, 2008... Restaurateur Ralph Brennan, along with chefs representing five of his Louisiana restaurants, developed "Ralph Brennan's New Orleans Seafood Cookbook," a guide to cooking New Orleans-style seafood. The cookbook boasts 150 recipes for appetizers,...

Fishermen need more than a Band-Aid.(One Man's Opinion)
August 1, 2008... It's hard to pick up a newspaper or a magazine without reading about the pains of soaring fuel prices. For fishermen, the pain has been particularly acute. While U.S. fishermen have stoically suffered in silence, that's not the case elsewhere....

WTO rejects U.S. appeal, sides with Thailand, India: don't expect the ruling to alleviate vannamei, black tiger prices in immediate future.(shrimp)
August 1, 2008... World Trade Organization ruling last month may ease the burden on foreign shrimp exporters subject to U.S. anti-dumping tariffs. The WTO's Appellate Body upheld a February ruling that a U.S. law requiring foreign shrimp exporters to post a...

Bristol Bay red salmon runs strong: sockeye gains atone for king losses in Alaska.(salmon)
August 1, 2008... The 2008 king salmon harvest hasn't been the summer blockbuster buyers anticipated. But the sockeye run in a key region of Alaska has been a bright light in an otherwise dark night. In Bristol Bay last month, a glut of sockeye, or red,...

Tough times for U.S. catfish industry: production costs soar, as do catfish, pangasius imports.(whitefish)
August 1, 2008... Domestic catfish farmers had a good June, processing 45.2 million pounds round weight, a 21 percent increase from June 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average price paid...

Mahi prices high: supply tested by fuel costs.(FOCUS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Disappointing swordfish and tuna fishing led to more boats participating in the domestic mahimahi season, which began in mid-May and ended by June 15. But more fishermen did not necessarily mean more catch, according...

PEI blue mussel harvest on track: one of Maine's largest mussel producers shuts its doors.(shellfish)
August 1, 2008... Prince Edward Island blue mussel production is on par with last year's, as demand for the affordable bivalve is showing no indication of letting up in the United States. PEI represents about 85 percent of Canada's mussel harvest, and so...

Salmon sales surge: wild, farmed salmon position weighs heavily on retailers.(salmon)
August 1, 2008... With per-capita salmon consumption at 2.36 pounds in 2007, according to National Marine Fisheries Service data, it may be no surprise that salmon sales account for a significant percentage of fresh retail seafood sales. (Neither government...

Progress in process: controversial report alleges seafood labor abuses, criticizes certification standards.(Top Story)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Providing consumers the information they demand about their food choices requires that seafood buyers examine a complex catalog of sourcing criteria. Sustainability, food safety and the environmental impacts of...

Processing scales: processors capitalize on scale technology advancements.(Processing & Services)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 2002, when Gainco represented a line of scales and indicators for the meat, poultry and seafood industries, the Gainsville, Ga., company received continuous customer feedback that there were no indicators on the...

Wild shrimp: supply is down, but prices remain strong.(Top 10 Species)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While the U.S. and imported wild shrimp Supply is down this year because Of soaring fuel costs, suppliers are hoping to increase its value by stressing the product's premium flavor and sustainable profile. ...

Recession resilient? Canned seafood sales may be a bright spot during economic slump.(Trend Watch)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] while all companies are dealing with the fallout related to the nation's economic uncertainty, one seafood segment that stands to benefit from the troubled times ahead is canned seafood. Consumers trying to cut back...

Making a case for retail: consumers are stretching their dollars as food prices soar.(Case Study)
August 1, 2008... Jim Wallace has seen recessions come and go. But this one is unique, says Wallace, VP of perishable procurement with C&S Wholesale Grocers, a Hatfield, Mass., company serving 5,000 grocery stores in 12 states. When fuel prices skyrocketed...

Fresh off the boat: owners' fishing background is key to Casablanca Seafood Bar & Grill's success.(In the Kitchen)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Seafood doesn't get much fresher than what's served at Casablanca Seafood Bar & Grill in Miami. Third-generation fishermen, owners Lazaro and Maribel Sanchez and Jorge and Tania Sanchez own not only a seafood market,...

Sablefish: high Japanese demand keeps U.S. supply low.(Product Spotlight)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 2002, trade and consumer restaurant magazines pegged sablefish as the next "hot" fish. Six years later, results are mixed on whether the species, also known as black cod or butterfish, will fulfill that...

Integrated Aquaculture International.(People in the News)
August 1, 2008... Integrated Aquaculture International added two directors to its staff. Malcolm Smith is director of breeding and hatchery operations. Smith has more than 20 years' experience in the aquaculture industry. Smith oversees selective breeding and...

High Liner Foods.(People in the News)
August 1, 2008... High Liner Foods named Keith Decker as president and COO of High Liner Foods USA, which includes the company's retail division and Fishery Products International in Danvers, Mass. In 1995, Decker began working in sales management for FPI, which...

Gainco.(People in the News)(Gainco announced appointments of James Petersen, Jim Hippie and Brian Porter )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Gainco announced three seniorlevel appointments with the cornpaw's marketing and sales division. James Petersen has been appointed director of marketing and business development, and is responsible for managing Gainco's domestic and...

Marine Harvest.(People in the News)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Marine Harvest ASA announced that Arne Sorvig has been named VP of communications. Sorvig has been director for the Norwegian Seafood Export Council in Spain for six years. The company also appointed Alvaro Jimenez managing director for Marine...

United States Cold Storage.(People in the News)
August 1, 2008... United States Cold Storage hired 16-year supply chain veteran Marty Steinmetz as VP of national sales for its southern region. Steinmetz is based from a USCS national sales office in Kennesaw, Ga. He most recently served as senior director of...

Poseidon Seafood.(People in the News)
August 1, 2008... Poseidon Seafood named C.P. Davis as president and CEO. Davis had been serving as president and COO since last July. Over the past year, Davis has led customer-development and supply-chain initiatives that have significantly improved Poseidon's...

Preferred Freezer Services.(People in the News)
August 1, 2008... John Galiher, founder, president and CEO of Preferred Freezer Services, was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in New Jersey in the Distribution & Transportation Services category. The winners were selected in a total of 10 categories...

Marine Stewardship Council.(People in the News)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The Marine Stewardship Council announced that Mike Boots, director of the Seafood Choices Alliance in Silver Spring, Md., was elected to its board of trustees. In addition, MSC announced Wicharn Sirichai Ekawat, managing director of various...

McCormick & Schmick's.(People in the News)
August 1, 2008... McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants announced that Chairman and CEO Doug Schmick received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 Award in the Food & Beverage category in the Pacific Northwest.

In memoriam.(People in the News)(Maurice Horowitz)(Marvin Rubenstein)(Obituary)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Maurice Horowitz, 90, a nationally respected frozen seafood expert and food broker, passed away May 19. In 1953, Horowitz founded M.K. Horowitz Co., a food broker selling to southeastern supermarkets and restaurants. The company became one of...

Fast fillets.(VALUE-ADDED)(Southstream Seafoods now offers South African Cape Capensis frozen-at-sea fillets for retail and foodservice applications)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Southstream Seafoods now offers South African Cape Capensis frozen-at-sea fillets for retail and foodservice applications. Cape capensis, a member of the hake family, is a popular alternative to species such as cod, haddock, flounder, sole and...

Dip in.(VALUE-ADDED)(Sea Gold Seafood Products introduced its Spinach & Seafood Dip)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Sea Gold Seafood Products introduced its newest dip flavor, Spinach & Seafood Dip. Made with cream cheese, Alaska pollock and spinach combined with spices, the dip can be served as a topping on pasta, vegetables and fish, as a sandwich spread,...

Crab containers.(VALUE-ADDED)(Crab Kingdom)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Crab Kingdom now produces premium pasteurized snow crabmeat. Fully cooked and ready to eat, the product is all-natural, contains no preservatives and has a 12-month shelf life. It is high in protein and low in fat and calorie content. The meat...

Summer grillin'.(VALUE-ADDED)(SeaPak Shrimp Co. introduces all-natural seafood for the grill retail )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The SeaPak Shrimp Co.'s all-natural seafood for the grill retail line features three products. SalmBurgers, Smoky BBQ Salmon Fillets and Seasoned Tuna teaks cook in 10 minutes or less. Nine-ounce tuna steaks are marinated in seasoning and...

Vacuum packed.(PACKAGING)(Rollstock Vacuum Packaging Machines )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Fully automatic Rollstock Vacuum Packaging Machines offer simple reliability for a low cost. Available in a variety of web widths from 285-to 459-milimeters, all Rollstock machines feature programmable logic controllers with readable...

Life saver.(PACKAGING)(Flavorseal Metalized Pouches )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Flavorseal Metalized Pouches from Carroll Manufacturing and Sales extend shelf life of foods by minimizing oxygen exposure and easily reseal to keep foods fresher longer. The pouches are available in high-sheen metalized colors such as gold,...

Seafood Calendar.(Brief article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2008... SEPTEMBER Sept. 24-26 National Fisheries Institute Annual Meeting The Venetian Las Vegas (703) 752-8880 www.aboutseafood.com Sept. 29-Oct. 1 Aqua Vision 2008 Stavanger Forum Conference and Exhibition Center Stavanger, Norway...

Joel Chenet.(One on One)(Interview)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Joel Chenet Chef-Owner Mill Bay Coffee & Pastry Kodiak, Alaska Joel Chenet's culinary resume reads like a well-worn passport. In his native France, Chenet cut his teeth in the kitchens of numerous three-and...