Seafood Business articles from February 2009

Seafood Business archives from February 2009

Time for ... shrimp?(Editor's Note)
February 1, 2009... President Barack Obama's inauguration was all the buzz as this issue went to press in mid-January. Watching hordes of Americans flocking to Capitol Hill was amazing and uplifting. Once the swearing-in ceremony was over, my thoughts quickly...

Brokers busted for undersized spiny lobsters: Miami father-and-son team charged with Lacey Act violations.(legal)
February 1, 2009... A Miami-based father-and-son seafood brokerage team was charged in December with importing undersized spiny lobsters from Brazil and the Bahamas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement charged Milton...

Shrimp bonding requirement to end: CBP takes nearly a year to comply with WTO ruling.(supply)
February 1, 2009... U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a Federal Register notice last month seeking public comment on its proposal to terminate its enhanced bonding requirement (EBR), as mandated by a World Trade Organization ruling. Shrimp...

High court allows colorant lawsuit: retailers argue only government can enforce COOL.(retail)
February 1, 2009... The U.S. Supreme Court this week rejected an appeal by several major national supermarket chains to dismiss a consumer lawsuit accusing the retailers of violating federal food-labeling rules. The lawsuit contends that the...

Gordon Food Service.(Biz BRIEFS)
February 1, 2009... Gordon Food Service will build a 150,000-square-foot distribution center near Pottsville, Pa., adding 100 jobs. The facility, scheduled for completion this year, will support its northeastern U.S. customers.

Landry's Restaurants.(Biz BRIEFS)
February 1, 2009... Landry's Restaurants canceled CEO Tilman Fertitta's takeover bid, citing a conflict over the disclosure of financing information. The company is pursuing alternatives to refinance about $400 million in senior notes.

Bell Aquaculture.(Biz BRIEFS)
February 1, 2009... Bell Aquaculture, seeking to increase its yellow perch fillet production to 8.5 million pounds by 2015, completed construction of a 28,000-square-foot headquarters and processing plant in Redkey, Ind. The company also launched a $15 million...

Seafreeze Cold Storage.(Biz BRIEFS)
February 1, 2009... San Francisco investment firm Bay Grove Capital acquired Seafreeze Cold Storage of Seattle, a former subsidiary of Toyo Suishan Kaisha Ltd. of Japan. The facility is Seattle's largest public refrigerated warehouse at 7 million cubic feet.

PadenCold.(Biz BRIEFS)
February 1, 2009... PadenCold opened its second cold storage warehouse in Norfolk, Va., a 1.5-million-cubic-foot space formerly owned by Americold Logistics.

Glitnir.(Biz BRIEFS)
February 1, 2009... Glitnir will switch its name back to Islandsbanki on Feb. 20, as the Icelandic bank refocuses its efforts on the domestic market.

Harvest Select, Thai Union earn BAP marks: companies cite consumer interest in environmental, social responsibility.(environment)
February 1, 2009... Last month, Harvest Select Catfish became the world's first catfish producer to receive Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification for its farms and. processing plants, while Thai Union Frozen Products became Thailand's first shrimp...

Geoduck enters political battle: Taylor Shellfish fined for inadvertent trespassing.(legal)
February 1, 2009... Taylor Shellfish's Totten Inlet geoduck farming operation continued in limbo late last month as part of an ongoing struggle over tidelands. Washington's largest shellfish company agreed to pay a $630,000 fine for growing geoducks on state...

Actor's illness claim questioned: Piven blames health issues on sushi consumption.(health)
February 1, 2009... The Center for Consumer Freedom and National Fisheries Institute called on actor Jeremy Piven to come clean about why he abruptly left the Broadway show "Speed-the-Plow" in December. So did the producers of the Broadway revival, who last month...

Stop & Shop and Giant Food are launching a product-labeling system to help customers find the store's healthiest foods.(Line ITEMS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Stop & shop and Giant Food are launching a product-labeling system to help customers find the store's healthiest foods. The Healthy Ideas System will distinguish more than 3,000 of the stores' products and fresh produce with a bright green and...

Trans-Ocean Products.(Line ITEMS)
February 1, 2009... Trans-Ocean Products of Betlingham, Wash., is advertising with Weight Watchers magazine and on WeightWatchers.com to capitalize on consumers' New Year's weight-loss resolutions. The company is touting its Crab Classic line of surimi seafood...

Cooke Aquaculture.(Line ITEMS)
February 1, 2009... Cooke Aquaculture of Blacks Harbor, New Brunswick, will add about 50 workers to its farmed salmon processing facility in Machiasport, Maine. The plant began operating in November, about two months ahead of schedule.

Captain D's.(Line ITEMS)
February 1, 2009... Quick-service chain Captain D's is rolling out a hiring-management system designed to help foodservice operators improve employee selection and retention. Parent company Sagittarius Brands of Nashville, Tenn., has licensed Silver Creek...

Bush designates world's largest MPA: nearly 200,000 square miles of Pacific now off limits.(environment)(George W. Bush's marine protected areas)
February 1, 2009... Just 14 days before leaving the White House, President George W. Bush designated three areas surrounding 11 remote islands to the far south and west of Hawaii as marine protected areas (MPAs), rendering more than 195,000 square miles of the...

NOAA alleges global IUU fishing: agency pledges to help six nations, including China.(supply)
February 1, 2009... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last month submitted the first-ever report to Congress identifying six nations whose fishing vessels were engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2007 or 2008. The...

Buying guides now on iPhone: MBA, EDF use technology to reach consumers.(environment)
February 1, 2009... Consumers looking to make sustainable seafood purchasing decisions can now turn to their iPhone for advice. The seafood buying guides published by Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) are now available as iPhone...

Sushi at home.(Off THE SHELF)
February 1, 2009... Sushi is one of America's favorite specialty foods, yet intimidating to prepare at home. "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Sushi and Sashimi" by James Fraioli shows how it can be to prepare restaurant-quality sushi. The guide contains 75 of the...

Economic climate depresses global shrimp market: vannamei prices level off, but not after falling sharply late last year.(Market Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Everywhere you look--the United States, the European Union or Japan--the farmed shrimp market is depressed, the result of the global economic downturn. After increasing 6 percent in September and 10 percent in October, U.S. shrimp imports...

Chilean production to drop dramatically: lower supplies, higher prices due to ISA.(Market Report)(infectious salmon anemia)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Despite the typically slow time of year, buyers in the for Atlantic salmon should position themselves now, because waiting until the second quarter could result in difficulties. Production in Chile, the U.S. market's main farmed salmon...

Tilapia production to rebound in 2009: frozen fillet prices may soften in coming months.(Market Report)
February 1, 2009... Global tilapia production fell 13 percent in 2008, to 2.06 million metric tons. Given last winter's snow and ice storms and lower-than-usual temperatures in southern China, which decimated production at many tilapia farms there, the drop was...

Skipjack prices decline: Thailand's exports jump substantially.(FOCUS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The global economic downturn provided a positive, albeit brief, development for exporters of canned tuna, a staple for cost-conscious consumers. Raw material prices for skipjack tuna, after spiking last summer to...

Scallop prices are on the rise: cold Northeast weather limits domestic supply.(Market Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Scallop prices have been level for a while, but bitter winter weather forced East Coast scallopers to stay shoreside in early and mid-January, resulting in limited supply and an expected price hike. "Expect prices of domestics to go up for...

Prepared seafood sales take off: consumers turn to easy meals instead of trekking to restaurants.(Retail Report)
February 1, 2009... Prepared seafood answers the demands of individuals who want restaurant-quality seafood at home without the costs associated with dining out. Consumer interest in prepared seafood is gaining, spurring growth nationally. Prepared seafood...

Vision on hold: Ruth's Chris struggles to realize Mitchell's vision to be a national brand.(Top Story)(Company overview)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Say you're in Louisville, Ky., and suffering a serious fish craving. You'd soon be licking your chops and punching Summit Plaza into the GPS after spotting this from local About.com writer Jessica Elliot: "We...

Farmed shrimp: price-conscious buyers can find plenty of deals in the shrimp market.(Top Species)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bargain hunting is a necessity in today's shaky economy, and that also applies to the seafood counter and restaurant menus. While studies show Americans are tightening their belts when it comes to both dining out and...

Heading back to Boston: visitors, exhibitors prepare for IBSS & SPA.(IBSS Preview)(Directory)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This year's International Boston Seafood Show and Seafood Processing America will be held March 15 to 17 at the Boston Convention and exhibition Center. Be sure to pack your green, as St. Patrick's Day is on the last...

Onsite education: conference program offers variety of topics.(Conference Schedule)(Calendar)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Visitors have an opportunity to learn about a variety of topics affecting the seafood industry in this year's conference program. From sustainability to marketing to processing, there's a conference to suit many...

Equipment showdown: Seafood Processing America returns.(SPA Preview)(Directory)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Visitors from across the globe will descend upon the fifth annual Seafood Processing America, co-located with the International Boston Seafood Show from March 15 to 17 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center....

Texas tacticians: value focus boosts United's sales.(What's in Store)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] United Supermarkets, a chain of nearly 50 stores throughout Texas based in Lubbock, is increasing its sales in tough economic times by focusing on frozen seafood items that offer a value for shoppers. It is...

Let them eat cake: new value menu items support The Cheesecake Factory's bottom line.(Behind the Line)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's a rainy Friday night in downtown Seattle and The Cheesecake Factory lobby is crammed with pager-holding, hungry diners waiting between 30 and 40 minutes for a table. Cheesecake samples are passed around and...

If the economy improves ...(Restaurant NOTES)
February 1, 2009... According to a November Technomic report, 53 percent of consumers say they would eat at restaurants or order takeout more often if their personal economic situation were to improve. More than half of that 53 percent indicated they would spend...

Bring on the coupons.(Restaurant NOTES)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Fifty-eight percent of consumers indicated that a coupon for a set number of dollars off would be the most likely incentive for them to order food more frequently from a restaurant, according to a September 2008 Technomic report. Just over half...

Fitness @ Yum! Brands.(Restaurant NOTES)
February 1, 2009... As part of Yum! Brands' "Keep It Balanced" effort, the restaurant chain that includes Long John Silver's and A&W Restaurants is offering consumers worldwide a free, month-long trial membership to an online wellness and fitness training tool...

A movie with your meal.(Restaurant NOTES)
February 1, 2009... Brinker International and Regal Entertainment Group of Knoxville, Tenn., have collaborated to offer consumers dinner and a movie in a new promotion. The $50 "movie and a meal" promotion includes a $25 gift card to be used at any of Brinker's...

Organic rules advance: however, few farmed finfish products would meet proposed standards.(Going Green)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The high-end, Hawaiian farmed yellowtail known as Kona Kampachi[R] could be "the most politically correct fish to eat right now," declared a Vail, Colo., writer in summer 2008. But don't expect to see the fish...

Tracking technology: systems that provide A-to-Z product history can save time, money along entire supply chain.(Product Spotlight)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Product tracking is an integral part of the seafood industry, a process that, if done efficiently, can save time, money and headaches in the future. Whether for monitoring inventory, tracking the movement of seafood...

Cannon Fish Co.(People in the News)
February 1, 2009... Cannon Fish Co. of Seattle promoted Michael DeCaro to VP of sales. In addition to retail and foodservice sales, DeCaro's responsibilities have included managing production facilities, procurement and product development. DeCaro was instrumental...

International Marketing Specialists.(People in the News)
February 1, 2009... International Marketing Specialists of West Newton, Mass., appointed Don Fleishman VP of foodservice sales. Fleishman is a 35-year veteran of the food and seafood industries and was a regional sales manager for Ore-Cal for the last 20 years....

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.(People in the News)
February 1, 2009... "[he Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission elected Bobby Samanie III, a long-time Dulac, La., shrimp processor, its statewide chairman. Samanie, VP of Lafitte Frozen Foods, replaces Opelousas attorney Patrick Morrow, an at-large member,...

AEW Delford.(People in the News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... As of Feb. 1, Roy Mercer took over as managing director of AEW Delford in the I[I.K. Roy succeeds Asgeir Asgeirsson, who will now devote his time exclusively to his position as Marel Food Systems' director of product development. Mercer has...

MCKnight & Co.(People in the News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Lisa Brandli, who previously worked with public-relations firm McKnight & Co. of Mercer Island, Wash., has returned to the company as VP and account supervisor after several years to focus on her family. During her time away from the office,...

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.(People in the News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... MOL appointed Rebecca Yang to import sales manager, southeast Gulf region. Yang joined MOL in 1994 as a sales representative in the Atlanta office. Since then she has held several positions including executive account manager and sales and...

Ring in the New Year, Italian style.(VALUE ADDED)(calamari )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Tampa Maid's Italian-style Oven-Ready Breaded Calamari Rings are coated with Italian breadcrumbs made from oregano, cheese, garlic and other seasonings. Each tender calamari ring can be baked to a crispy crunch in a matter of minutes, making...

Yuengling on tap.(VALUE ADDED)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Icelandic[R] USA introduces a line of beer-battered seafood products with new Yuengling[R] Lager battered haddock portions. "The line begins with hand-cut fillet portions of Icelandic's longline-harvested haddock. The fillets are then dipped in...

Natural cost reduction.(VALUE ADDED)
February 1, 2009... Advanced Food Systems has introduced Actobind[R] ingredient systems that increases yields and significantly reduces costs in meat, poultry and seafood products. Actobind partially or completely replaces sodium phosphate, which increased in cost...

Seafood calendar.(Calendar)
February 1, 2009... MARCH March 3-6 Foodex Japan 2009 Makuhari Messe Japan Contact Japan Management Association +81-3-3434-6211 www.jma.or.jp/foodex March 4-5 North Atlantic Seafood Forum Thon Hotel Arena Lillestrom/Oslo, Norway Contact Norway Trade Fairs...

Heather Tausig.(One on One)(Interview)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Director of Conservation New England Aquarium Boston Aquariums are much more than big glass tanks full of fish and other exotic marine creatures. Leading U.S. aquariums are becoming increasingly influential...