Seafood Business articles from July 2002

Seafood Business archives from July 2002

Major movers.(top seafood distributors)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Seafood from more than 140 countries fuels the $25.5 billion wholesale) U.S. seafood market. But without distributors, none of it would make it to the retail case or menu. Distributors ensure that the highly perishable sole from Belgium,...

Chloramphenicol scare slows seafood sales in Louisiana. (Food Safety).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... As Southern and federal food-safety officials step up efforts to ensure shrimp and crawfish are free of the banned antibiotic chloramphenicol, a rising number of seafood buyers and suppliers are concerned about consumer reaction to the news....

Bioterrorism law gives FDA more authority over food supply. (Supply).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Expect to see interruptions in the flow of seafood supply, especially imports, over the next several months as key provisions of a new $4.6 billion bioterrorism law aimed at safeguarding the nation's food supply take effect. "[The...

Three Thriftways ban farmed finfish. (Late News).(Seattle Thriftway supermarkets)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Three of Seattle's Thriftway stores on June 26 became the first mainstream grocers to announce they will sell only wild finfish and cease selling farmed finfish. A similar switch to wild-only shellfish is under review. The Renton Village,...

Feds seize Chilean sea bass. (Late News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... An unnamed importer, an exporter and fishermen may face civil penalties and criminal fines related to the May 30 seizure in Boston of more than 33 tons of illegally harvested Chilean sea bass, or Patagonian toothfish. Special agents with...

Catfish farmers purchase processor. (Late News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... A joint venture of Arkansas catfish farmers purchased the operating assets of Farm Fresh Catfish Co., the country's oldest catfish processor, last month. The acquisition gives Farm Fresh access to 125 Arkansas farmers, allowing the processor to...

Maine council declares lobster eco-friendly. (Late News).(Maine Lobster Promotion Council )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Short on cash to pay for third-party eco-certification of the Maine lobster fishery, the Maine Lobster Promotion Council took matters into its own hands and declared its product eco-friendly. The move introduces another eco-label into the...

Long John Silver's new parent tests fast-casual Asian concept: Yan Can menu features shrimp with Martin Yan's signature sauces. (Foodservice).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Yum! Brands, the new parent company of Long John Silver's, will launch an Asian fast-casual restaurant concept called Yan Can. The concept is named after TV food celebrity Martin Yan, who hosts the popular "Yan Can Cook" TV show, which is...

New Red Lobster menu plays up health benefits of eating seafood: five fresh-fish offerings feature bold flavors, trendy cuisines. (Foodservice).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Red Lobster unveiled an updated menu nationwide this spring that emphasizes new fresh-fish preparations' and the heart-healthy benefits of eating seafood, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The casual-dining seafood chain is cashing in...

Heinz spins off StarKist: Del Monte will bring back Charlie the Tuna. (Acquisition).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Charlie the Tuna won't have to feel sorry for himself if the spinoff of StarKist from Heinz to Del Monte meets projections. Del Monte Foods and H.J. Heinz reached an agreement in mid-June in which Heinz' seafood, pet food, soup and baby...

Spinney Creek Shellfish. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Spinney Creek Shellfish, a shellfish supplier in Eliot, Maine, expanded operations in June by enlarging its production facility, adding a new quality-assurance lab and increasing its cooler capacity by 500 percent.

Empress International. (Biz Briefs).(Ole Biloxi Oyster and Fish Co.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Empress International of Port Washington, N.Y., received U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval last month on its bid to buy certain assets, including key personnel, brands and products, of Kirkland, Wash.-based Coast to Coast Seafood.

Atlantic Coast Fisheries Corp. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Atlantic Coast Fisheries Corp. of New Bedford, Mass., in May boosted its borrowing power with Islandsbanki, Iceland's largest bank, to finance growth. The expanded line of credit is part of the company's recapitalization, following a...

John T. Handy Co. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... John T. Handy Co. of Crisfield, Md., in May received a certificate from food testing labs Siliker citing Handy for outstanding food safety and quality systems. Handy specializes in crab cakes, salmon cakes and softshell crabs.

President forms task force to address hazards from mercury pollution; stricter standards could be painful for the seafood industry. (Food Safety).(George W. Bush)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... At the urging of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), President Bush formed a task force in late May charged with addressing mercury pollution in the Gulf of Mexico and across the nation. About $1.5 billion worth of seafood could be at stake, says...

Growth of fast-casual segment is good news for seafood sales; seafood is featured on the menus at expanding Chili's Too, Baja Fresh. (Foodservice).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The popularity of the fast-casual concept, the quickest-growing segment of the $411 billion foodservice industry, has captured the interest of Brinker International and Wendy's International, two of the world's largest restaurant chains. ...

Applebee's launches takeout: seafood comprises part of the new to-go service. (Foodservice).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar, the country's largest casual-dining chain, will offer seafood in its new takeout service, which will go nationwide over the next three years. Applebee's, with more than 1,417 restaurants, will offer a...

Facts & figures. (News Line).(seafood)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... 34 China's seafood production in 1998, in millions of metric tons 43 China's seafood production in 2000, in millions of metric tons 599 Value of U.S. imports of Chinese seafood in 2000, in millions of...

Diversified Business Communications president dies unexpectedly at 58; Neil Grossman shepherded trade-show partnership. (People).(Neil Grossman)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
July 1, 2002... Neil Grossman, president of Diversified Business Communications, died June 7 after complications following emergency surgery. He was 58. Diversified owns the International Boston Seafood Show, the West Coast Seafood Show and the European...

West Coast shrimpers file antidumping petition against Canada: Department of Commerce weighs industry's support for shrimpers. (Trade).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... After months of consideration and research, West Coast fishermen filed an Antidumping and Countervailing Duties petition against the Canadian government on June 13. The petitioners allege that the Canadian government subsidizes Atlantic...

Food additive market grows. (Line Items).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The U.S. food additives market is expected to hit nearly $5.8 billion by 2006, according to a study from Business Communications Co., a Norwalk, Conn., market research firm. Sales of additives reached nearly $5 billion in 2001 and are expected...

Good fish, bad fish. (Line Items).(seafood eco-label )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Restaurateurs who participated in a seafood eco-label discussion in Washington, D.C., say the concept is a good one but needs refining. "Now we have `good fish, bad fish' lists out there that appear to be inconsistent," says Wade Wiestling,...

Death tax lives. (Line Items).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... To the disappointment of the Food Marketing Institute and the National Restaurant Association, last month the Senate failed by a narrow margin (54-44) to approve a permanent repeal of the estate tax. Both the FMI and the NRA favored permanent...

Shelf-life extender gets patent: Keeper[R] prolongs product viability up to five days. (R&D).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... The U.S. Patent Office has given its stamp of approval to a proprietary anti-microbial product that reportedly extends seafood's shelf life by up to five days. The recently patented Keeper[R], developed by BioCide International of Norman,...

Rich-SeaPak renames its frozen seafood brand: SeaPak Shrimp Co. is the line's new label. (Marketing).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Rich-SeaPak Corp. of St. Simons Island, Ga., has distinguished its brand products by launching the SeaPak Shrimp Co. line. The new brand name replaces the SeaPak line of frozen seafood products, which consists primarily of shrimp prepared...

Fish tales from a pro. (Off the Shelf).(Off the Hook: Reflections and Recipes from an Old Salt)
July 1, 2002... Fishermen are known for telling tales, and old salt Roger Fitzgerald has some tall ones to tell, whether it's throwing salmon at attacking bears in Alaska, trying to stamp fake "scallops" out of a skate wing or eating mahimahi day in and day...

U.S.-raised Atlantic halibut may reach market sooner than expected; UMaine researchers are one step closer to farming halibut. (Aquaculture).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... An Atlantic halibut spawned in captivity for the first time on U.S. soil at the University of Maine Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research in May. Although none of the eggs survived, which is typical the first time a halibut spawns in...

The big picture. (News Line).(salmon buying habits)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... The ones that get away While 57 percent of U.S. households buy fresh salmon, most buy it fewer than six times a year. Frequency of purchase: Fewer than 3x/year 30% 3-6x/year 33% 7-12x/year 20% More...

In my kitchen. (News Line).(Red Rock Bistro )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Allen Bohnert Chef Red Rock Bistro Swampscott, Mass. Restaurant concept: American cafe, specializing in seafood Seafood sales: About 80 percent of total Finfish on the menu: Haddock, tuna, salmon, mahimahi, daily catch ...

Prices of Canadian coldwater shrimp could go even lower: and domestic Gulf shrimp is about as cheap as it's been in years. (Shrimp).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Looking for coldwater shrimp? There should be plenty of Canadian product at low prices for weeks to come. Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans was expected to boost the 2002 northern shrimp quota by around 20 percent. It has been set at...

Halibut fishery to pick up in late July: quota cut on rockfish in Canada should tighten market. (Groundfish).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... The 2002 halibut fishery approached the halfway point in mid-June. Through June 18, landings totaled 28.4 million pounds, 48 percent of the 59-million-pound quota. As Alaska's salmon season kicked in, halibut landings fell from 3.2 million...

Snow crab gets more expensive this year: prices of live American lobster should keep rising this month. (Shellfish).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... Japanese demand for Canadian snow crab is strong this year. In April, Japanese imports of fresh snow crab totaled 2,712 metric tons, up 252 metric tons from the same month last year, while imports of frozen product came to 1,519 metric tons, up...

Another snapper opening: fishermen get a second chance to clean up spring quota's leftovers. (Focus).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... The domestic Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery will open July 1 for six days to allow harvest of the remaining 366,850 pounds of the 3.1-million-pound spring quota, which is usually met in May or June. Mother Nature hasn't cooperated with...

Market weakens as supplies increase: hike in farmed-salmon prices didn't last for long. (Salmon).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... Prices of farmed Atlantic salmon from Chile dropped almost $1 a pound from mid-May to mid-April. An algae bloom on the Chilean Island of Chiloe had pushed up prices to levels not seen since October 2000. In mid-June, fresh Chilean fillets...

Losing a leader. (Publisher's Note).(Diversified Business Communications president Neil Grossman)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
July 1, 2002... Last month, Diversified Business Communications, parent company of SeaFood Business magazine, lost its leader. Neil Grossman was president of Diversified, and through his leadership, the company expanded all over the world. Our trade...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2002... An error appeared in the May Equipment feature on scales. The price of the CW-80 checkweigher from Rice Lake Weighing Systems starts at $1,395.

Litigation diverts NMFS from its true mission. (Issues & Answers).(National Marine Fisheries Service)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Despite claims to the contrary, fishery conservation is working. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization reports, that about 18 percent of the world's fisheries are overexploited and total global seafood production (including...

Politicians should stop tinkering with tuna tariffs. (Trade Forum).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... When politicians, not fishmongers, tinker with markets, watch out. Just look at the tuna tiff. What began on Capitol Hill as a fight over money between two giant tuna companies--ConAgra's Bumble Bee and H.J. Heinz's StarKist Seafood...

Sysco leads by a long shot: broadliners dominate Top 10 Seafood Distributors. (Top Story).(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... 1 Sysco Corp. Seafood sales: $1.33 billion Total sales: $21.8 billion Location: Houston Phone: (281) 584-1390 Web site: www.sysco.com Chairman and CEO: Charles H. Cotros Products: Full line of finfish and shellfish, fresh and frozen. ...

Restaurateur makes his power play: Phil Roberts treks across America to create Oceanaire Seafood Room concept. (Seafood Star).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... It took a month of visits to restaurants from New York to San Francisco, as well as meetings with seafood brokers and distributors, for Phil Roberts to arrive at his "power seafood" restaurant concept. Roberts--CEO, co-founder, and partner in...

Supermarkets brand their own meal-ready seafood entrees; private label trend reaches beyond value-added commodities. (Trend Watch).(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... Move over, packaged shrimp. The latest evolution of the robust private-label seafood trend reaches beyond value-added commodities and into meals. Supermarkets like Minneapolis chain Byerly's are making room in the display case for their...

Rock shrimp makes a splash on menus: restaurants across the country are enjoying this tasty, tough-shelled treat from Florida. (On the Menu).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Looking for a new shellfish for the menu? Think rock shrimp. No longer considered a throwback, rock shrimp have been cropping up more and more lately, thanks to recent advances in processing technology and availability. So named because of...

Inspect, rotate, refill and plan ahead to save money, time and shrink; establish simple operating procedures and make them a daily routine for everyone in the department. (The Grocery Store).(seafood departments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... To be profitable, seafood departments must have a written guide to the correct way and order in which to do the necessary tasks. Corporations may call this their Best Practices Manual (BPM) or Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Sure,...

Wild salmon: beleaguered wild-salmon industry wrestles with harvesting restrictions and inexpensive farmed salmon. (Species Focus).(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... The wild salmon industry will have to overcome a number of challenges if its product is ever to become an everyday favorite in restaurants and supermarkets beyond the Pacific Northwest. The industry's most obvious hurdle is competition from...

Bluefin tuna: landings of the world's most expensive fish have declined, but more premium bluefin is now available. (Product Spotlight).(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... You've heard the stories about the fabulous prices. The first bluefin of the year auctioned off at Tokyo's Tsukiji Market last January fetched $173,200--an eye-popping $390 a pound. Although the fish was a 202-kilo, fat-laden beauty caught...

Quality control: third-party inspection services help ensure that seafood meets quality and safety standards. (Equipment Focus).(Surefish Seafood Quality Specialists, Certified Laboratories and Nationwide Inspection Systems)
July 1, 2002... Seafood products have to clear many hurdles on the way to the marketplace. They must meet safety and quality demands of the federal government, seafood buyers and consumers. Processors in the United States are required to comply with HACCP...

Idaho twist. (Center Of The Plate).(Icelandic Seafood Corp.'s Tater Crust)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Icelandic Seafood introduces Tater Crust, fresh, tender fish fillets coated with shredded Idaho potatoes. The fish can be prepared on a flat grill, baked or fried. Tater Crust can be offered on the menu as fish and chips, an entre or in a...

Flavor in, bones out. (Center Of The Plate).(Clear Springs Foods boneless rainbow trout fillets)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Clear Springs Foods offers Clear Springs Clear Cuts guaranteed boneless rainbow trout fillets. The company bills them as "popular, tasty, versatile, cost-effective and easy-to-prepare." Clear Springs removes even the pesky pinbones from the...

Chowders to go. (Value-Added).(Anthony's Fish Grotto's new clam chowders)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Fisherman-style and New England clam chowders from Anthony's Fish Grotto, a division of Anthony's Seafood Group, are the first of the company's new line to hit retail stores. The fresh chowders are packaged in two sizes, a 32-ounce container...

Easy "scratch" oysters. (Value-Added).(Tampa Maid Inc.'s Dipt'n Dusted[R] oysters)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Tampa Maid's Dipt'n Dusted[R] Oysters look like breaded oysters prepared from scratch in your kitchen, but without the work, waste and mess. Tamp Maid uses fresh, domestic eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from Gulf and Atlantic waters...

Shrimp and then some. (Value-Added).(Gorton's Seafood expands Shrimp Bowl line)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Gorton's is expanding its Shrimp Bowl product line with two new offerings: Primavera Shrimp Bowl and Fried Rice Shrimp Bowl. The primavera combines bowtie pasta with shrimp and a medley of spring vegetables, including broccoli, carrots,...

Swimming blues. (Value-Added).(Mrs. Friday's introduces new crab cake products)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Mrs. Friday's introduces three new crab cake products, all made with fresh blue-swimming-crab meat blended with Japanese panko breadcrumbs and seasonings, including mustard, celery, onion and garlic. The new offerings are Gourmet Crab Cakes;...

Red alert. (Sanitation).(C&K Manufacturing and Sales Co.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... New from C&K Manufacturing and Sales Co. in Westlake, Ohio, is the C-Kure Solution Pail. The pail is designed to eliminate the danger of accidentally putting food or ice in a container that may have been used to hold a dangerous cleaning agent....

Brush high, brush low. (Sanitation).(Advertising)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Indianapolis-based Remco covers all the angles with its new High-Low Brush. Featuring three bristle surfaces, the brush makes it possible to clean under machines, reach baseboards and scrub floors, all with the same tool. The brush features...

Alcohol clean. (Sanitation).(Best Sanitizers solution approved)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The Environmental Protection Agency has given Best Sanitizers the go-ahead on Alpet D2, touted by the company as a "breakthrough" sanitizing solution. Because Alpet D2 is formulated with a very low water content, it is especially useful in...

Light duty. (Processing Equipment).(Flexco Inc. introduces the Clipper 845LD Cutter)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Flexco has released its new Clipper 845LD Cutter for cutting product as it moves along on a conveyor belt. The Clipper is designed for light-duty conveyor applications, such as food processing, agricultural and in-plant parts and package...

Trimmer lube. (Processing Equipment).(Bettcher Industries)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Boston-based Bettcher Industries now offers WhizLube, a lubricant designed to enhance the casing and flex-shaft performance of its Whizard Series II Trimmers. A new line of Whizard Series II Trimmers is also available. The new 1900 Family...

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. (People In The News).(Barbara Belknap)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... After serving for five years as one of Alaska's most vocal promoters of seafood, the woman who is credited with redefining the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is leaving the helm. Barbara Belknap, director of the agency, served longer than...

Captain D's. (People In The News).(Captain D's Restaurant honors franchisee Jim Pepper)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Franchisee Jim Pepper has been inducted into Captain D's Hall of Fame. The restaurant gives the award to franchisees who have shown brand loyalty, increased sales and received high marks from "mystery shoppers." Pepper was one of Captain D's...

Bunzl Distribution. (People In The News).(Paul B. Stewart, Jacques Doiron)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Bunzl Distribution of St. Louis, Mo., named Paul B. Stewart manager of special projects, supermarkets. He will be based in Atlanta. Stewart has 23 years experience in the distribution industry, most recently as southern vice president for...

Martin International. (People In The News).(Hank Steinman)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Boston-based Martin International Corp., which imports and exports the Black Pearl brand of fresh and frozen fish and shellfish, recently appointed Hank Steinman to its sales team. Steinman is responsible for expanding Martin's sales volume...

Darden Restaurants. (People In The News).(Wendy Spirduso, George Williams)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Restaurant chain Red Lobster promoted Wendy Spirduso to the position of communications director. She will be responsible for media relations, community relations and executive communications for Red Lobster's 660-plus restaurants throughout the...

FSA Group. (People In The News).(Full-Service Association Group clients)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The Full-Service Association Group in Louisville, Ky., announced two new appointments for its clients. Heidi Yost takes over as director of chapter relations for The American Institute of Wine & Food and Alison Walker becomes director for Women...

Calendar: 2002-03.(conferences, expositions)(Calendar of Events)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... JULY July 7-9 Summer Fancy Food Show Jacob K. Javits Center New York City Contact National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (212) 482-6440, ext. 250 www.fancyfoodshows.com July 16-18 Workshop On Design...

Tom DeMott: managing senior partner, Encore Associates. (One On One).(managing seafood departments in supermarkets)(Interview)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... After managing supermarket seafood programs for 27 years, Tom DeMott has a few things to say on the subject of how supermarkets sell seafood. He was the first fresh seafood merchandiser hired by Kroger Stores, and he worked his way up to...