Seafood Business articles from July 2003

Seafood Business archives from July 2003

Aces in our industry. (Best Buyers 2003)(Top Story).(Denise Englade and Tim Curci of Bonefish Grill)
July 1, 2003... Behind the scenes of knockout seafood retail displays and inspired seafood menus are buyers who manage thousands of critical details while still focusing on their company's mission. The best buyers make it look easy--but we all know it's not....

Fewer distributors see profit margins rise in 2003. (Special report: distributor survey).
July 1, 2003... A sluggish economy and increased competition from suppliers are making it harder for seafood distributors nationwide to boost their profit margins, according to SeaFood Business' biennial distribution-industry survey. Despite flat or...

Pew proposals could tighten supply. (Environment).(Pew Oceans Commission)
July 1, 2003... Seafood buyers could face smaller harvests from U.S. fisheries and flat domestic marine aquaculture production if Congress adopts changes recommended by the Pew Oceans Commission in its report "America's Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea...

Chesapeake Bay McDonald's adds crabcake sandwich. (Late News).
July 1, 2003... Thirty-seven McDonald's restaurants on the Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay have rolled out a new crabcake sandwich. So far, the item, available through Labor Day weekend, is selling well, says Rick Hoff, who heads a cooperative of 37...

Lawmakers aim to exempt meat industry from COOL. (Late News).(country-of-origin labeling regulations)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The House Appropriations Committee moved to get the meat industry off the hook in mid-June by passing a ban on any spending to develop or enforce mandatory country-of-origin labeling regulations as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's...

King's Seafood Co. opens sixth Fish House restaurant. (Late News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... King's Seafood Co. opened its sixth King's Fish House restaurant in mid-July in Carlsbad, Calif. The restaurant comprises 7,000 square feet inside with an additional 1,500 square feet of patio dining space. The format, similar to the other...

Program connects consumers to Maine's lobster fishery. (Late News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Island Institute of Rockland, Maine, has launched a program designed to link consumers and Maine's lobster fishery using claw bands and the Internet. The eight Vinalhaven, Maine, lobstermen currently participating in the program,...

Jurors side with processors in Bristol Bay salmon price-fixing case; fishermen sought more than $1 billion in damages. (Processing).
July 1, 2003... After four months of heated testimony in Anchorage, Alaska, jurors in late May cleared Seattle-based processors and Japanese importers of conspiring to fix prices of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon between 1989 and 1995. About 4,500 Bristol Bay...

Maine salmon farmers appeal court order to halt operations, use of European strains; the future of the state's farmed-salmon industry is left in limbo. (Aquaculture).
July 1, 2003... Two of Maine's largest farmed-salmon companies have appealed a May 28 U.S. District Court ruling that threatens the future of the state's aquaculture industry. Atlantic Salmon of Maine and Stolt Sea Farm were ordered by Judge Gene Carter...

Fishery Products International Ltd. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Fishery Products International Ltd. refinanced $54 million (Canadian) of term debt through Islandsbanki hf of Iceland for $79 million in new secured term loans. FPI will use the additional $25 million for capital expenditures in its primary...

Phillips Foods selected Slade Gorton & Co.. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Phillips Foods selected Slade Gorton & Co., a global importer, distributor, manufacturer and marketer of fresh and frozen seafood, as a distributor of select seafood products, including Phillips' Signature, Chef's Choice and Chesapeake lines.

McCormick & Co. acquired Zatarain's, a national brand of mixes and seasonings based on New Orleans-style cuisine, from Citigroup Venture Capital and other investors for $180 million cash. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... McCormick & Co. acquired Zatarain's, a national brand of mixes and seasonings based on New Orleans-style cuisine, from Citigroup Venture Capital and other investors for $180 million cash. McCormick will operate Zatarain's business at its...

Ronald's Seafood of Largo, Fla., received Darden Restaurants' William B. Darden Distinguished Vendor Award. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Ronald's Seafood of Largo, Fla., received Darden Restaurants' William B. Darden Distinguished Vendor Award in recognition of the shellfish supplier's innovation and high quality standards during its 16-year relationship with Darden.

Tampa Maid Foods. (Biz Briefs).(receives award for accident rate below industry standard)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Tampa Maid Foods received its third award for attention to workplace safety from Liberty Mutual Insurance. The Safety Commendation Award recognizes the company's achievement in maintaining an accident frequency rate of 4.02 injuries per 200,000...

Captain D's opens in Okinawa; chain plans 10 units on U.S. military bases. (Foodservice).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Captain D's first international restaurant, its fourth on a U.S. military base, got off to a brisk start last month. Opening-week sales at the 112-seat restaurant on Camp Foster, a Marine base in Okinawa, totaled $68,000, the third highest in...

Commerce places final tariffs on Vietnamese basa and tra imports; ITC is scheduled to make its final ruling this month. (Trade).(US Catfish farmers get relief from foreign dumping)
July 1, 2003... The Catfish Farmers of America is one step away from winning the antidumping petition it filed more than a year ago against Vietnamese basa and tra imports. The U.S. International Trade Commission is scheduled on July 31 to determine...

Owner of Miami caviar import firm establishes Sturgeon AquaFarms; Marky's hopes farmed caviar will relieve pressure on Russian product. (Aquaculture).
July 1, 2003... Marky's Caviar in Miami will no longer have to rely solely on imports from Russia to fill U.S. demand for sturgeon and its prized roe. The company is starting a domestic sturgeon farm that will be producing both meat and caviar by 2010. ...

Facts & figures. (News Line).(statistics about McDonald's Filet-o-Fish)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
July 1, 2003... 5.5 Size of McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich, in ounces 470 Number of calories in a Filet-O-Fish sandwich 26 Grams of fat in a Filet-O-Fish sandwich 15 Grams of protein in a ...

Casual-dining sales on rise: Red Lobster leads the way in Technomic's report. (Foodservice).(sales and forecasts for seafood restaurants )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Casual dining is driving the growth of seafood-restaurant sales, reports foodservice-industry analyst Technomic in Chicago. Among the top 100 restaurant chains, casual-dining seafood sales totaled $3 billion in 2002, up 10 percent from...

ASMI promotes convenience and flavor of Alaska's frozen fish; Cook it Frozen consumer and retail campaign underway. (Marketing).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is putting tools into retailers' hands to help them show consumers how convenient it is to cook frozen seafood. The "Cook it Frozen" campaign provides retailers with professional in-store cooking...

Orca Bay Foods is first seafood supplier to join Meatless Monday campaign: Wash. company asks consumers to replace beef, pork or poultry with fish weekly. (Marketing).
July 1, 2003... Orca Bay Foods has joined a new national effort to help Americans reduce their saturated-fat intake. The "Meatless Monday" campaign urges consumers to substitute a food low in saturated fat for beef, pork or poultry once a week. Orca Bay is...

Kiwis play matchmaker online. (Line Items).(U.S. importers paired with New Zealand suppliers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... MarketNewZealand.com, launched recently by Trade New Zealand, pairs U.S. importers with New Zealand seafood, meat, wine and produce exporters. Buyers' inquiries are assessed by industry experts who pass each inquiry to an appropriate New...

Marine Harvest markets farmed halibut. (Line Items).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Marine Harvest, known for its farmed salmon products, is now supplying farmed halibut, barramundi and rainbow trout from operations in the United Kingdom. Production has been sold primarily to the domestic U.K. market, but Marine Harvest made...

Omega-3 helps stave off "baby blues". (Line Items).(pre and post-partum depression incidence less in women who eat fish 2 or 3 times a week)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Pregnant women who eat seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids may experience less pre- and post-partum depression, says a new study released in May before the American Psychiatric Association. Researchers studying 11,721 British women found that...

McCormick & Schmick to open new grill. (Line Items).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The McCormick & Schmick Restaurant Group, operators of McCormick and Schmick's national seafood chain, will open its second M&S Grill in September in the vacant Planet Hollywood space in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The new restaurant, with...

The big picture.(Primary causes of obesity in Americans)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The BIG PICTURE What makes Americans fat? Primary causes are within our control, say food and nutrition experts Lack of exercise 71% Poor food choices 63% Large portions 46% Source: Oldways Preservation Trust...

Gower Idrees. (In My Kitchen).(Chef g's Seafood & Steakhouse)(Restaurant Review)
July 1, 2003... Gower Idrees Owner/Chef Chef g's Seafood & Steakhouse Houston Restaurant concept: New-style American seafood and steaks In business: Six months Menu strategy: Customers design their own dinner "journey,"...

Whole Foods grants MSC $225,000; retailer aims to increase number of eco-labeled species in U.S. market. (Environment).(Marine Stewardship Council gets grant to help certify more US fisheries)
July 1, 2003... In an effort to increase the number of eco-labeled fisheries important to the U.S. marketplace, Whole Foods Market in late May awarded a $225,000 grant to the Marine Stewardship Council to hire a new fisheries outreach officer. The officer...

Domestic Gulf shrimp is a bargain, despite sluggish fishery: influx of vannamei imports continues to put pressure on the U.S. resource. (Shrimp).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The western Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery is in a state of flux this month, as Texas and Louisiana transition between seasons. Texas is scheduled to reopen its season, which has been closed since May 15 to allow shrimp to grow to market...

Halibut prices haven't eased up yet: but they should once demand softens and supplies increase. (Groundfish).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The first half of the 2003 Pacific halibut fishery is history, but prices remain high. Robust demand and tighter-than-usual supplies have kept prices of fresh and frozen product firm. Usually, prices fall significantly four to eight weeks...

Live-lobster prices are on their way up: but look for them to level off next month. (Shellfish).
July 1, 2003... Canada's lobster fishery is in transition this time of year. A number of inshore fisheries from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia have closed in recent days or are scheduled to close this month. The offshore fishery remains open year-round. ...

Dogfish supplies sliding: closure and a strong euro to blame. (Focus).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Fresh spiny dogfish will be harder to come by for the next few months, since the East Coast fishery subsides this month and won't reopen until Nov. 1. The annual East Coast dogfish quota of 4 million pounds is divided between two fishing...

2003 a tough year for Maine's farmers: infectious salmon anemia, lawsuit keep them on their toes. (Salmon).(salmon prices and supply affected by weather, disease and legislation)
July 1, 2003... An extremely cold winter in which thousands of Atlantic salmon froze to death is just one in a series of setbacks Maine salmon farmers are dealing with. The spread of infectious salmon anemia in Cobscook Bay has forced one producer to...

Domestic aquaculture under the gun. (Editor's Note).(new reports suggests changes for ocean management and aquaculture)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Here we go again. Another report has been published painting a doom-and-gloom picture of the U.S. seafood industry--from ocean to plate--and suggesting sweeping changes for its future. The Pew Oceans Commission, charged with raising public...

Pew reports paint incomplete picture. .(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... Over the past few years, there have been many "oceans in crisis" campaigns that overstate concerns to gain public attention:The release of the Pew Oceans Commission report "America's Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change," offers the...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2003... A typo resulted in an incorrect price for snow crab in the Market Report in the June issue of SeaFood Business. The price of 5- to 8-ounce New-foundland snow crab clusters was $4.35 to $4.45 a pound at the time the June issue went to press. We...

Plan ahead to comply with new FDA rules. (Issues & Answers).(new regulations to ensure the safety of food chain)
July 1, 2003... In May, the Food and Drug Administration unveiled two more regulatory proposals--administrative detention and record keeping--as part of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Act of 2002. The record-keeping proposal requires domestic...

Niche marketing can boost your bottom line. (Marketing Forum).(seafood industry can profit by focusing on minority markets)
July 1, 2003... During these times of continued economic uncertainty, most seafood companies concentrate on maintaining their core business, the large, traditional market segments that have generated sales over the years. There comes a time, however, when...

Culinary Systems creates foods not yet on the 'radar screen': Tony Lagana draws on culinary expertise to develop products for the likes of Kraft and Red Lobster. (Seafood Star).
July 1, 2003... If you've ever wondered who the culinary genius is behind some of the new menu items at Red Lobster or the line of panini sandwiches served at Barnes & Noble cafes, look no further than Tony Lagana. He has 27 years of experience in the food...

Retailers use seafood to attract Hispanic consumers: supermarkets catering specifically to Hispanics are popping up across the country. (Trend Watch).
July 1, 2003... At Carnival Food Stores' 16-foot full-service seafood counters, you'll find whole, dressed tilapia for 99 cents a pound, a tank with live catfish and bilingual employees and signage. Seafood is so popular with Carnival's Hispanic customers...

Blue Fin benefits from B.R. Guest's buying clout: New York restaurant serves ambitious seafood fare in a high-volume setup. (On the Menu).
July 1, 2003... By any measure, Paul Sale has a challenging job. As executive chef and associate partner of Blue Fin restaurant in New York's W Times Square hotel, he presides over a kitchen that produces up to 1,000 meals on a busy Saturday night. But...

Making a case for attractive displays: be sure your main selling vehicle is set up to draw customers in. (SeaFood University).
July 1, 2003... Your department is clean, it's properly stocked and it's a model of safe-handling standards--but customers will just walk on by if all they see is a drab seafood display case. Eye-catching, well-organized displays are a critical element in...

White shrimp: a huge increase in production from Asia and Latin America keeps sales of America's favorite seafood soaring. (Species Focus).
July 1, 2003... Buying shrimp has never been simple, what with net weights, uniformity ratios, counts and the use of various chemicals like tripoly and bisulfites. But at least in terms of species, the advent of large-scale shrimp farming has made it...

Battered and breaded: new flavors keep this category a favorite with consumers. (Product Spotlight).(seafood restaurants introduce new products)
July 1, 2003... By introducing new flavors, innovative suppliers of battered and breaded seafood products deliver a fresh take on an old favorite, pushing the category beyond its strong, mainstay offerings of plain, breaded or battered whitefsh and shrimp. ...

PanaPesca. (People In The News).(Nina Hunter appointed)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Nina Hunter joined PanaPesca USA Corp., bringing her extensive experience in retail and foodservice sales to the company. PanaPesca USA is a member of the PanaInternational Group, based in Italy.

Phillips Foods. (People In The News).(promotes Judy Cornish)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Phillips Foods promoted Judy Cornish, formerly Northeast region sales and marketing manager, to director of national account sales. In her new position, she will develop and oversee all national account business for the company.

TLC. (People In The News).(Total Logistics Control appoints Richard Bailey, Frank Reuwer, Paul McDonough and Kevin Margeson )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Richard Bailey was named senior vice president of Total Logistic Control of Zeeland, Mich., a third-party provider of logistic management services. Bailey has 35 years' experience in the food and consumer products industry. He was most recently...

Shells. (People In The News).(David Head resigns)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... David Head, two years into a three-year contract as president and CEO of Shells Seafood Restaurants, resigned to take another position at an unnamed, larger company.

Tampa Maid. (People In The News).(appoints Clare Bailey, Kathy Boschee, Lee Anne Hilsman and Carl Tamborello)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Tampa Maid Foods announced four new appointments. Clare Bailey, a certified executive chef, was promoted to manager of culinary services. Kathy Boschee was named director of sales management. Lee Anne Hilsman was named director of marketing,...

IFT. (People In The News).(Institute of Food Technologists appoints Barbara Byrd Keenan)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Barbara Byrd Keenan was appointed executive vice president of the Institute of Food Technologists, replacing Daniel E. Weber, who announced his retirement in February. Keenan will assume the full responsibilities of IFT's executive office on...

National Fisheries Institute. (People In The News).(Conrad Lautenbacher is honoured for public service)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... NFI presented its Public Service Award to Department of Commerce Undersecretary Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher. NFI recognized Admiral Lautenbacher's nearly 40 years of service establishing sound ocean policies for the United States and...

Rockfish Seafood Grill. (People In The News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Samuel "Bud" Boswell joined Rockfish Seafood Grill as chef/partner at the company's Piano, Texas, location. Boswell has 20 years' experience as an executive chef and since 2000 was director of culinary education and training at Ben E. Keith...

East Coast Seafood. (People In The News).(Neal Workman completes work for company)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... East Coast Seafood announced in May that Neal Workman had completed his assignment in marketing and business development for the company. Workman signed on in November 2002 for a six-month project to lead some of East Coast's new market...

Duncan Law Center. (People In The News).(Donna Stone appointed)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Donna Stone was chosen as the new director of the Duncan Law Seafood Consumer Center affiliated with the Oregon State University Seafood Laboratory in Astoria, Ore. Stone worked in marketing and public relations for the previous six years and...

In memoriam.(Robert Emmett Dignon and Vernon P. Swanes had distinguished careers in the seafood industry)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Northern Products Robert Emmett Dignon died April 28, 2003, in Seattle at the age of 96. A past president of the Northwest Fisheries Association, Dignon spent 55 years in the fish business, retiring at the age of 88. In 1935, he joined...

Color-coded crabmeat. (Crab).
July 1, 2003... Phillips Foods' new shrink-sleeve retail packaging differentiates grades of blue-swimming-crab meat by color. Jumbo meat is packaged in red, backfin comes in royal blue, special is teal and claw is orange to help both retailers and customers...

Extending the season. (Crab).(John T. Handy Co. offers softshells from Asia)
July 1, 2003... To keep softshell crabs on the market year-round, the John T. Handy Co. now offers softshells from Asia to meet demand after the domestic season in Chesapeake Bay ends. Handy exported its technology and expertise to the warm waters of Southeast...

Pouch says it all. (Crab).
July 1, 2003... John Keeler & Co./Blue Star Food Products introduces ready-to-eat blue-swimming-crab meat in 6-ounce retail pouches, available in lump meat and claw meat varieties. The package contains colorful plate shots, recipes and serving suggestions and...

Triple dipping. (Complements).
July 1, 2003... Blue Crab Bay Co. expands its line of seafood dips with the new Shrimp Dip Kit, a 6-ounce can of tiny cocktail shrimp with a packet of herb-blend seasonings. The kit offers shelf-stable, high-quality ingredients for a single batch of dip made...

True Cajun flavor. (Complements).
July 1, 2003... Old Bay[R] introduces a new seafood blend, Old Bay[R] Blackened Seasoning, combining zesty spices like red and black pepper, paprika and thyme. To create authentic blackened-seafood dishes, simply coat fish with two teaspoons of Blackened...

Hot stuff. (Complements).
July 1, 2003... Motivatit Seafoods launched Gold Band Oyster Elixir[TM], a habanero-based hot sauce that's the first non-oyster addition to the company's line of Gold Band brand oyster products. The 5-ounce bottles of Oyster Elixir[TM] are available...

Bring out the best. (Complements).
July 1, 2003... Papa Lou's Seafood Marinade & Saute Sauce enhances all kinds of seafood dishes with its unique blend of 21 ingredients, developed from a family recipe. The zesty sauce is ready to use right out of the bottle. Simply marinate shrimp, scallops or...

All dressed up. (Canned/Pouched).
July 1, 2003... The lowly canned sardine got a makeover by BELA-Olhao. Inside a distinctive, white BELA can are bright, silvery gourmet sardines, available in six styles: whole sardines in lemon, tomato or hot sauce and olive or soybean oil, and skinless,...

Tuna with a twist. (Canned/Pouched).
July 1, 2003... New from Bumble Bee Seafoods is Touch of Lemon[TM] tuna. The chunk light tuna has a subtle enough lemon flavor that it can be used in any recipe calling for canned tuna. The 6-ounce can carries a bright yellow label that visually conveys the...

Hassle-free salmon. (Canned/PouchSed).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Chicken of the Sea[R] introduces premium, no-drain pink salmon in a convenient, vacuum-sealed foil pouch. The skinless, boneless salmon is ready to use right out of the easy-open pouch, and there's no waste. Packed as six 40-ounce pouches to a...

A hex on murky water. (Retail Display).
July 1, 2003... Marineland Commercial Aquari-ums offers the Hex-Barrel, a live-seafood-display system for retail seafood departments. Measuring 50 inches wide by 50 1/2 inches high, the Hex-Barrel features fully laminated cabinetry, a 360-degree viewing area...

Dryness defeated. (Retail Display).
July 1, 2003... From the Corrigan Corp. of America comes the VaporPlus[TM] humidity system to keep seafood looking fresh in the display case. A stainless-steel, ultrasonic air-atomizing nozzle below display racks produces a fine vapor that rises around the...

CCAMLR not linked to Chilean sea bass ad.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... While the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources fully recognizes the right of any individual or other body to place an advertisement of this nature (see March SFB, pp. 4-5), I wish to record the following: *...

Further clarification on sea bass ad. (Letters To The Editor).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... Neither the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration nor the U.S. Department of Commerce developed, placed or endorsed the advertisement on Chilean sea bass that ran in the March 2003 issue of SeaFood Business, nor had any foreknowledge...

Calendar 2003.(events of interest to the seafood industry are planned around the world)(Calendar)
July 1, 2003... JULY July 12-16 IFT Annual Meeting & Food EXPO McCormick Place South Chicago Contact Institute of Food Technologists (312) 782-8424; fax (312) 782-8341 www.am-fe.ift.org July 16-18 5th Japan...

Dave Johnson VP of purchasing and distribution, Restaurants Unlimited. (One On One).(Interview)
July 1, 2003... Buying fresh fish for 30 fine-dining restaurants strung out from Hawaii to Virginia is a challenge, but it's one that Dave Johnson certainly has the background for. After starting work in his dad's restaurant at the age of 9, he vowed he would...