Seafood Business articles from January 2007

Seafood Business archives from January 2007

We've been hard at work.(Editor's Note)
January 1, 2007... As you may have already realized, there are quite a few changes with this issue of SeaFood Business. The first thing you'll notice is the design orchestrated by Laura Dobson, who was recently promoted to art director. The clean lines and fresh...

Magnuson-Stevens reauthorized: science, IFQs to influence fishery management.(supply)
January 1, 2007... The House of Representatives finally reauthorized U.S. fishery-management legislation last month, ending years of delays and political wrangling. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 had been...

Students compete in shrimp cook-off.(Mexican Shrimp Council awards scholarships to students at Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The Mexican Shrimp Council in late November awarded $6,000 in tuition scholarships to three student-chefs at the Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago as part of a cook-off featuring Ocean Garden Products' Authentic Mexican Shrimp. The winner,...

New Long John Silver's menu offers healthier choices: seafood QSR debuts prototype in Ohio.(foodservice)
January 1, 2007... Long John Silver's is testing a menu with healthier offerings and greater variety at its new concept prototype that opened in Columbus, Ohio, late last year. The menu features salads, wraps and grilled-seafood items such as shrimp and...

Blue Horizon Organic Seafood Co.(Biz BRIEFS)
January 1, 2007... Blue Horizon Organic Seafood Co. of Aptos, Calif., in December received financing from Greenmont Capital Partners that will allow it to expand its market for sustainable wild and farmed seafood.

Western Edge Seafood.(Biz BRIEFS)
January 1, 2007... Western Edge Seafood of Pittsburgh in November opened an export office in Shenzen, China, where it maintains partnerships with several aquaculture operations. Tony Kuang, formerly of Maersk Line, heads the new office. Western Edge produces and...

CombiScale.(Biz BRIEFS)
January 1, 2007... CombiScale in November moved its office to a 4,000-square-foot facility in Elk Grove, Ill. The new address is 2621 Greenleaf Ave., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. Phone is (847) 806-0606.

MTC Delaware.(Biz BRIEFS)
January 1, 2007... MTC Delaware, a subsidiary of Hoffberger Holdings, in November purchased a 221,000-square-foot refrigerated distribution center in New Castle, Del., from Delaware Refrigerated Service. The facility operates under the Merchants Terminal Corp....

Sea Fare Group.(Biz BRIEFS)
January 1, 2007... Sea Fare Group in December moved its office to 4250 8th Ave. NW, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98107. Phone and fax remain unchanged. Phone is (206) 789-5741; fax is (206) 789-0504.

Albertsons, Benihana post mercury warnings: Oceana report touts Alaska, Hawaii retailers.(health)
January 1, 2007... Albertsons in late November began posting warning signs in its nearly 1,000 stores about the risks of mercury exposure from seafood consumption. When the supermarket chain announced its decision, environmental group Oceana of Washington,...

Skipper's files Chapter 11: Seafood chain owes more than $6.7 million.(foodservice)
January 1, 2007... Skipper's, which operates 59 Skipper's Seafood 'n Chowder House restaurants, filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Seattle on Dec. 12. The Edmonds, Wash., company owes more than $6.7 million, including more than $1.9...

Alaska king crab fishermen pledge to stop discards: 'dirty shell' crabs retained to prevent quota cuts.(supply)
January 1, 2007... After discarding millions of pounds of No. 2 red king crabs in 2005, Bristol Bay fishermen say they fulfilled their pledge to end the practice during the recently completed harvest. King crabs with darkened or barnacle-encrusted shells have...

Darden Restaurants.(Line ITEMS)
January 1, 2007... Darden Restaurants announced in December that it's switching to a trans fat-free frying oil at its 1,267 Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants by November. More than 100 units already use the new canola oil.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants.(Line ITEMS)
January 1, 2007... McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants in November acquired The Boathouse from the Spectra Group of Restaurants for $14.3 million. The Boathouse operates five waterfront restaurants in the Vancouver area.

Raving Brands.(Line ITEMS)
January 1, 2007... Raving Brands in November signed a partnership with Hungry Ventures to open 24 Boneheads restaurants in Southern California. Boneheads, a grilled-fish and chicken concept, operates six units in Georgia and Florida.

FreshDirect.(Line ITEMS)
January 1, 2007... FreshDirect, an online fresh-food delivery service, in December delivered its 5 millionth order. Seafood is among the many foods the company provides to 250,000-plus New York-area consumers.

Good Harbor Fillet.(Line ITEMS)
January 1, 2007... Good Harbor Fillet of Gloucester, Mass., is providing 200,000 reduced-fat fried-fish sandwiches each month to New York students as part of a deal the company signed with the city's Board of Education in October.

Study downplays sea lice risk: further research needed to understand impact.(aquaculture)
January 1, 2007... Wild Pacific salmon, considered by some environmentalists to be at risk of sea lice infections caused by fish farms, may be more resistant to the ocean parasites than farmed salmon, according to a study released in late November. "Sea...

Japan's Maruha, Nichiro merge: deal involves seven Seattle-area processors.(supply)
January 1, 2007... Japanese seafood giants Maruha Group and Nichiro Corp. in December announced plans to merge, forming the world's largest seafood company with approximately $8.4 billion in annual seafood sales. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The...

U.S. shrimp industry nets $100 million in Byrd money: but some claims are excessive and potentially fraudulent.(trade)
January 1, 2007... Shrimp processors and fishermen from the Carolinas to Texas began receiving checks in early December, compliments of the Byrd Amendment, a law authorizing the distribution of tariffs to industry. But not all recipients can keep the checks. ...

New England seafood at its best.(Off THE SHELF)
January 1, 2007... The Boston Globe Illustrated New England Seafood Cookbook is chock full of authentic New England seafood recipes, expert advice from the region's top chefs and useful tips that will turn your kitchen into a chowder factory. The only thing it...

Christmas cheer on the bayou.(One Man's Opinion)
January 1, 2007... There was plenty of cheer among seafood companies in the southeastern United States this holiday season. The first round of antidumping monies began flowing into the pockets of the companies that had claimed injury from the flood of imported...

Product substitution must be stopped.(fish product substitution at Florida restaurants, investigation)
January 1, 2007... Restaurants are found to be cheating nearly every time a Florida newspaper or TV station investigates whether the grouper on the menu is actually grouper or another species. Investigative reporters have purchased flesh samples from dozens of...

Vannamei production to increase again this year: expect prices of Pacific whites to hold firm or drop.(shrimp)
January 1, 2007... Global farmed-shrimp production is increasing at an average annual rate of 12 percent totaling slightly more than 2 million metric tons in 2005 and nearly 2.3 million metric tons in 2006, reports one industry analyst. At that rate, the world's...

Atlantic salmon prices don't deter buyers: imports on pace to top 400 million pounds in 2006.(salmon)
January 1, 2007... With prices this high, the fact that farmed-salmon imports increased at all in 2006 indicates U.S. demand is healthy. Buyers are paying a premium for Atlantic salmon--as high as $5 a pound for larger fillets. Through October, U.S. imports...

Demand for Pacific cod on the rise: quota cuts in Europe force Atlantic cod buyers to look elsewhere.(whitefish)
January 1, 2007... Lent, which runs from Feb. 21 to April 6, is fast approaching, and U.S. whitefish buyers are scrambling to procure Pacific cod, or P-cod, to satisfy increased seasonal demand. But they're facing increased overseas competition this year. ...

Gulf adopts IFQs for snapper: limited-access begins this year.(individual fishing quotas, red snapper fishing regulation in Gulf of Mexico)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The New Year means new rules for the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery. Individual fishing quotas are being implemented to help dwindling stocks rebound from years of overfishing. And there will be even fewer fish available this year; the...

Snow crab prices expected to jump: Canada's frozen inventory reportedly depleted.
January 1, 2007... Will this be a winter of discontent for snow crab buyers? One industry analyst concludes there aren't many bargains for opilio on the horizon. Alaska snow crab suppliers are keeping a close eye on supplies in Canada. According to several...

Room for growth in meals category: plan for peak seafood-meal sales in coming months.(meals)
January 1, 2007... The next few months consumers will look to seafood meals, which depending upon the supermarket could be a fried shrimp basket, fish and chips or a take-home sushi lunch, all made to order onsite. The smallest product category in the seafood...

MSC reaches tipping point: group's future will hinge on its ability to reduce the length and cost of fishery assessments.(Top Story)(Cover story)
January 1, 2007... In his two-plus years as CEO of the Marine Stewardship Council, Rupert Howes has accumulated more than 200,000 frequent flyer miles encouraging harvesters, processors, wholesale-distributors, retailers and foodservice operators in every corner...

Iceland transformed: seafood industry shifts focus from frozen to fresh.(Iceland)
January 1, 2007... Pure. Natural. Unspoiled. That's how the Icelandic Tourist Board describes the 40,000-square-mile island. The same can be said for the picturesque fishing villages, another recurring marketing theme for Iceland, whose economy is heavily...

Pollock/surimi: a quota cut in Alaska's Bering Sea likely to tighten supplies and boost prices.(Top 10 Species)
January 1, 2007... There's no more ubiquitous fin-fish than Alaska pollock, which is used worldwide for everything from surimi and fillets to fish sticks, nuggets and other value-added items. Pollock also is a coveted source of roe, especially for Asian markets....

Kosher market expands: mainstream consumers view kosher certification as a quality indicator.(Trend Watch)
January 1, 2007... For Harold Willner, executive VP of the Shindler Fish Co. in New York, the 10- to 20-percent cost increase for certifying 50 of his products kosher is well worth the price. "Kosher consumers are at least 50 percent of our buyers," he said. "If...

Il Grano goes beyond Italian: owner Sal Marino rises to the daily challenge of sourcing L.A.'s best fish.(In the Kitchen)
January 1, 2007... Sal Marino is obsessed with quality. The chef-owner of Il Grano in west Los Angeles rises every morning at 4 to beat all the other chefs in town to the best seafood from his favorite purveyors. Marino's tactic seems to have worked: In a town...

Seafood shines at market district: product selection, trained staff and demo kitchen help propel sales.(Case Study)
January 1, 2007... When a supermarket does seafood right it can lead to a sales bonanza. That's what Giant Eagle found during the first six months after opening two experimental Market District stores in greater Pittsburgh. The private chain, with 216...

Turbot: this flatfish is the cream of the crop, but beware of inexpensive imitations.(product spotlight)
January 1, 2007... A prized species among discerning seafood chefs who put it in a class with true Dover sole, European turbot is found on the menus of the whitest of white-tablecloth restaurants, Because of its limited export supply and coveted flavor and...

Eco-labeled hoki.(VALUE-ADDED)
January 1, 2007... Fishery Products International's line of value-added seafood products now includes Fresh Crumb Hoki Nuggets and Strips. The fresh Japanese panko breadcrumbs and moist whitefish yield a light and crisp alternative to the traditional breaded fish...

Crunches like a chip.(VALUE-ADDED)
January 1, 2007... Potato Crunch Fillets and Potato Crunch Fish Sticks are the newest products in Gorton's flavored-fillet and fish-stick product lines. Both products are made with flaky whitefish and feature a unique coating made with potatoes mixed with...

Don't tease me.(VALUE-ADDED)
January 1, 2007... Hillman Shrimp and Oyster Co. introduces Shrimp Teasers[TM], wild domestic shrimp lightly breaded with a hint of Monterey Jack jalapeno cheese. Shrimp Teasers can be served as an appetizer, on buffets or as a side dish. The product is all...

A Beatle would flip for it.(VALUE-ADDED)
January 1, 2007... Icelandic USA introduces the Sergeant Peppers[TM] Hot & Spicy Seafood line of products with an Alaska pollock portion and a tail-off shrimp. Both products are coated with a blend of peppers in a crunchy golden breading that allows the flavor to...

A whiz at slicing.(PROCESSING)
January 1, 2007... The 1900 family of Whizard[R] Series II trimmers is now available from Bettcher Industries. Designed for salmon slicing and other select seafood applications, the trimmers produce longer, wider slices for more attractive retail packaging. The...

Injection system.(PROCESSING)
January 1, 2007... The Cozzini Group's patented Suspentec[R] system is a particle-reduction process for processing line fish injection. Suspentec is an automated, efficient, easy-to-use method of transforming fish trimmings into traditional brines to create...

Salmon vac.(PROCESSING)
January 1, 2007... The Salmon After Cleaner VAC 16 from Laitram will be introduced at Seafood Processing America in Boston this March. This innovation in salmon processing cleans fish completely, automating a step on the processing line. With its vacuum...

Henningsen Cold Storage.(People in the News)
January 1, 2007... M. James Mark, CEO of the Melvin Mark Companies in Portland, Ore., was named to the Henningsen Cold Storage Co. board of directors.

The Fish Market.(People in the News)
January 1, 2007... Felipe Gonzalez was appointed executive chef of The Fish Market's Top of the Market in San Diego. Gonzalez was one of the opening chefs for the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach, Calif., and has held senior culinary positions at The Sea Lodge in...

Master-Bilt.(People in the News)
January 1, 2007... Master-Bilt, a New Albany, Miss., manufacturer of commercial refrigeration systems, appointed Edward Jacobs VP of finance. He brings to the job more than 25 years of financial, inventory-control and scheduling experience in the refrigeration...

FPI.(People in the News)
January 1, 2007... Fishery Products International (FPI USA), a subsidiary of Fishery Products International Limited, recently reorganized its senior leadership team. Keith Decker was promoted to executive VP of sales and marketing and is responsible for all...

American Seafoods Group.(People in the News)
January 1, 2007... Scott McNair was appointed VP of finance for American Seafoods. McNair, a certified public accountant, had served as American's director of financial reporting from 2003 to 2004. He most recently was a partner at Grant Thornton LLP and has held...

Yum! Brands.(People in the News)
January 1, 2007... Several senior-level management changes have been made at Yum! Brands. KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell have been placed under the leadership of veteran Taco Bell leader Emil Brolick, who was promoted to the new position of president of U.S. brand...

Fish City Grill.(Neighborhood Ventures promotes Dan Keils)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Dan Keils was promoted to director of training for Neighborhood Ventures, operator of Fish City Grill and Half Shells restaurants in Dallas. Keils joined Fish City Grill in 2003 as a GM for one of its Dallas restaurants. He brings extensive...

King & Prince Seafood.(People in the News)
January 1, 2007... Brian Halloran was named culinary director for King & Prince Seafood Corp. of Brunswick, Ga. Halloran has more than 25 years experience in the hospitality and foodservice industry. Prior to joining King & Prince, Halloran was corporate chef and...

In memoriam.(People in the News)(Obituary)
January 1, 2007... Longtime industry member John Berry of Bainbridge Island, Wash., passed away Nov. 17 at the age of 88. Berry was born in Ketchikan, Alaska, and lived on Bainbridge Island for the past 61 years. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. ...

Seafood calendar.
January 1, 2007... FEBRUARY Feb. 6-8 Cooked Shrimp Processing School University of Florida Aquatic Food Products Lab Gainesville, Fla. Contact Steve Otwell (352) 392-1991, ext. 304. otwell@ifas.ufl.edu ...

Durwin Daniels: food and beverage director the fish market Palo Alto, Calif.(One on One)(Interview)
January 1, 2007... Durwin Daniels is a busy man. His promotion to food and beverage director of The Fish Market in October 2005 has him running up and down the West Coast to oversee purchasing and quality control for the seafood restaurant chain's nine locations...