Seafood Business articles from June 2005

Seafood Business archives from June 2005

Swindling on the rise.(Top STORY)
June 1, 2005... No protein offers nearly as many choices as seafood, available in an infinite variety of species from around the globe. But one of seafood's greatest attributes is also one of its biggest drawbacks. Because many species share taste and...

Market ignores salmon study on risk from dioxins.(HEALTH)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Demand for farmed salmon appears brisk despite the May release of a study warning consumers to limit their farmed salmon consumption due to higher levels of cancer-causing dioxins in farmed salmon than in wild fish. Charlie Gibbons,...

Demand for premium wild salmon still strong.(SUPPLY)
June 1, 2005... The hoopla surrounding Alaska's salmon harvest, which hit new heights last summer, is showing no indication of dissipating this summer. High-end chefs and retailers nationwide are rushing to purchase the first batch of fish from the state's...

Gorton's to acquire King & Prince.(Late NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Gorton's of Gloucester, Mass., on May 20 announced plans to acquire shrimp producer King & Prince Seafood of Brunswick, Ga., to help it grow its shrimp and foodservice sales. King & Prince is "a perfect fit," says Steve Warhover, president...

Icelandic USA and Samband of Iceland merge.(Late NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Icelandic USA and Samband of Iceland are scheduled to close on a merger by July 1. The Icelandic Group, owner of Icelandic USA in Norwalk, Conn., agreed to merge with Sjovik/Blue Ice Group, owner of Samband of Iceland of Newport News, Va., in...

Summertime employers get break on work visas.(Late NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Seafood processors, restaurants and other U.S. businesses that depend upon seasonal workers got a reprieve when President Bush signed the Save our Small and Seasonal Business Act in late May. The act, an amendment to an emergency-funding bill,...

Bumble Bee to introduce fish-oil supplement.(Late NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Consumers looking to boost their omega-3-fatty-acid intake soon will have a new option in fish oil capsules from one of America's largest seafood companies. Bumble Bee Seafoods of San Diego and Leiner Health Products of Carson, Calif.,...

Smoki Foods acquires Wash. salmon farms from Pan Fish: Seattle company claims to be world's only producer of farmed and wild salmon.(AQUACULTURE)
June 1, 2005... Norwegian-based farmed-salmon giant Pan Fish sold its U.S. operations in Washington state to American Gold Coast, a subsidiary of Smoki Foods, for nearly $16.2 million early last month. The purchase makes Smoki Foods, a Seattle-based...

Tapas, greenshell mussels win 2005 Seafood Prix d'Elite: Danish, Kiwi companies take top honors at ESE's new products competition.(NEW PRODUCTS)(European Seafood Exposition)(KB Rogeri, Esbjerg, Denmark)(L&B Taspac Ltd., New Zealand)
June 1, 2005... KB Rogeri A/S of Esbjerg, Denmark, was awarded best new retail product for its Tapas smoked or cured fish and L&B Taspac Ltd. of Auckland, New Zealand, was awarded best new foodservice product for its Omega[TM] Seafood Cooked Gourmet Mussels at...

Ocean Garden Products.(Biz BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Ocean Garden Products, the primary U.S. importer of Mexican shrimp, is being offered for sale by Bancomext, Mexico's foreign trade bank, which is seeking only bidders with a demonstrated ability to sell Mexican seafood.

Icicle Seafoods of Seattle bought the struggling Woodbine Alaska Fish Co. plant at Egegik, Alaska.(Biz BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Icicle Seafoods of Seattle bought the struggling Woodbine Alaska Fish Co. plant at Egegik, Alaska, in March for an undisclosed price.

Van de Kamp's Frozen Food plant in Erie, Pa., maker of Mrs. Paul's brand frozen seafood products, will close in early July.(Biz BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Van de Kamp's Frozen Food plant in Erie, Pa., maker of Mrs. Paul's brand frozen seafood products, will close in early July as part of the reorganization of parent company Pinnacle Foods Group.

Kwik'Pak Fisheries assigned Pescamax as its seafood sales and marketing partner of record for all fresh and frozen Yukon River salmon products.(Biz BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Kwik'Pak Fisheries assigned Pescamax as its seafood sales and marketing partner of record for all fresh and frozen Yukon River salmon products. Pescamax will handle wholesale, retail and foodservice accounts.

A&B[R] Chemical Co., which makes and markets food-grade sodium tripolyphosphate and Seafood Blends[R], formed a sales and marketing alliance with Seafood Packaging of New Orleans.(Biz BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A&B[R] Chemical Co., which makes and markets food-grade sodium tripolyphosphate and Seafood Blends[R], formed a sales and marketing alliance with Seafood Packaging of New Orleans, which will represent A&B in the Gulf and Southeast.

AP Dataweigh and Rice Lake Weighing Systems formed a partnership that allows scale dealers.(Biz BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... AP Dataweigh and Rice Lake Weighing Systems formed a partnership that allows scale dealers to provide customers with AP checkweighers and case weighers driven by Rice Lake's 920i HMI controller.

Del Taco's new fish taco a hit, with 3 million sold since February: Mexican chain plans to rerun ads promoting the popular menu item.(FOODSERVICE)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... In just two months, Del Taco's Crispy Fish Taco has become one of its three top-selling menu items, according to the Lake Forest, Calif., company. The quick-service Mexican chain has sold more than 3 million fish tacos since its Feb. 2 debut....

California wines sweep oyster-pairing contest: judges choose 11 wines that best complement the bivalves.(MARKETING)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The best white wines to serve with oysters were determined at the 11th annual Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition in April. Claiming the honor were eight California vintners, along with one from Washington and one from Oregon. Judges...

Organic seafood eatery opens: Mare menu features deepwater fish, farmed shellfish.(FOODSERVICE)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A trio of Boston restaurateurs plan to open a high-end Italian seafood restaurant they describe as the city's first 100-percent-organic restaurant. Restaurateur Frank De Pasquale, Executive Chef Marisa Iocco and General Manager Rita...

Facts & figures.(News LINE)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 1, 2005... 14.1 Number of outdoor grills sold in the United States in 2003, in millions 14-5 Number of grills sold in the United States in 2004, in millions 74 Percentage of U.S. households with...

No link found between mercury and senior brain health: Johns Hopkins researchers conduct first study of methylmercury and seniors.(HEALTH)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... People over 50 don't need to worry about restricting their fish consumption due to methylmercury concerns, according to the first study to examine mercury's potential effect upon the aging brain and nervous system. Researchers from Johns...

Red Lobster survey says Americans are eating more seafood: heart health is among consumers' chief concerns.(FOODSERVICE)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Nearly half of seafood consumers are eating more seafood than they did five years ago, and about two-fifths are doing so due to its heart-healthy benefits, according to a recent survey commissioned by Red Lobster, the nation's largest casual...

Sourcing from Down Under.(Line ITEMS)(Western Australia Department of Fisheries)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Buyers can source Australian seafood 24-7 at www.SeafoodWesternAustralia.net, a new, free, online service provided by the Western Australia Department of Fisheries. The site includes a database of the region's seafood suppliers and lets buyers...

RA Sushi expands to Texas.(Line ITEMS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Benihana, operator of 71 Asian restaurants nationwide, will open its first RA Sushi Bar in Texas in Highlands Village, Houston. This will be the ninth of Benihana's newest concept. Like the existing RA Sushi Bars, the planned 6,500-square-foot...

Phillips opens third airport eatery.(Line ITEMS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Baltimore-based Phillips Foods opened a Phillips Famous Seafood eatery in its hometown airport last month. Launched in partnership with HMSHost Corp., which provides food, beverage and retail concessions to the travel industry, the 102-seat...

Self, May 2005.(Media MENTIONS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... "15 minutes to your best self" advises health-minded women to allot 8 minutes to choosing a national park as a vacation spot, 2 minutes to applying sunscreen and 5 minutes to choosing fresh fish for dinner (this clearly doesn't include the trip...

Martha Stewart Living, May 2005.(Media MENTIONS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... "Classic ways to present salmon," the topic of "Food 101," plugs the wild variety. Following a discussion of the visual and flavor attributes of salmon is a rundown on the anatomy of a fillet, pinbones and all, for the cook to consider in...

Something fishy.(News LINE)(Cartoon)
June 1, 2005... "I'D LIKE TWO ORDERS OF THE DEEP FAT FRIED FISH... AN EXTRA SIDE OF FRIES AND ANOTHER BEER... LOW CAL BEER PLEASE." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

North Atlantic trade group aligns with NE producers: NASA also to help fund Ocean Trust study.(PROCESSING)(New England Seafood Producers Association )(North Atlantic Seafood Association )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The North Atlantic Seafood Association decided in late March to contribute $60,000 to a New England Seafood Producers Association advertising campaign and donate $10,000 to an Ocean Trust study of North Atlantic stocks. NESPA will use the...

House report debunks mercury scare.(Off the SHELF)(Mercury in Perspective: Fact and Fiction About the Debate Over Mercury)
June 1, 2005... Seafood marketers who face customer concerns about methylmercury and follow the politics surrounding the toxin will find interesting reading in a report the House Resources Committee released this February. Methylmercury, found in almost...

Tariff-burdened exporters are suspected of evading duties: ITC will consider revoking tariffs against Thailand and India due to devastating effects of December tsunami.(SHRIMP)(International Trade Commission )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Nobody is surprised by the increase in U.S. shrimp imports from tariff-free countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Cambodia, which were omitted from last year's antidumping petition. But some are astonished that they're up so...

Interest builds for Yukon River kings, coho: Taku and Stikine river gillnetters net 5,000 kings in two weeks.(SALMON)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Now that the Copper River harvest is under way, high-end Alaska salmon marketers are shifting attention to the Yukon River fishery in northern Alaska, which is due to open in mid-June. Last summer, Yukon River salmon garnered a boatload of...

Bad weather mars Alaska halibut harvest: Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery still hasn't picked up.(FINFISH)
June 1, 2005... Prices of fresh halibut, which had been trending downward since mid-April, leveled off and then inched up in mid-May; 10-20s and 20-40s were commanding up to $4.15 and $4.35, respectively. The uptick was the result of bad weather, which...

Monkfish supplies tighten: blame weaker dollar, smaller quota.(PREVIEW)(Northern Fishery Management Area )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Monkfish may be harder to source in the coming months, due to a depreciating dollar and a slight cut in the 2005-06 monkfish quota. The United States exports a significant chunk of its East Coast monkfish catch to Europe, and the dollar has...

King crab moves through the pipeline: Newfoundland fishermen mull ending strike over snow crab processing quotas.(SHELLFISH)
June 1, 2005... There's plenty of king crab to go around. In the first quarter of 2005, U.S. king crab imports from Russia, representing 85 to 90 percent of total U.S. king crab imports, were up 16 percent, to 8.7 million pounds, from the same three-month...

Fraud makes all seafood companies look bad.(Editor's NOTE)
June 1, 2005... Last month I urged seafood buyers to make sure they get what they are paying for. This month I'm urging suppliers to sell what they say they're selling. I may be stating the obvious, but that's not always the way business is done in the seafood...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2005... The Species Focus on tuna in the March issue of SeaFood Business included some incorrect data for world tuna catches. According to the 2004 FAO State of Fisheries, world catches of tuna totaled 4 million tons in 2002. Skipjack tuna accounted...

Politics make fish producers see red.(One Man's OPINION)(import and export quotas)
June 1, 2005... Being a fisherman is a tough job, even in the best of times. Since harvesters rely on a wild resource, supplies can vary dramatically from year to year. Overhead, on the other hand, doesn't go away just because the fish do. Fish farmers have...

Signs point to increased support for aquaculture.(Aquaculture FORUM)
June 1, 2005... For the last decade, a handful of very wealthy foundations have funded public-relations campaigns to poison the waters about fish farming and slow its growth. These attacks have been successful because they have had the field virtually to...

Making sense of farmed-salmon certification: there's no single set of standards, but several programs are in place or under development.(Seafood FAQ)
June 1, 2005... The farmed-salmon industry in recent years has faced increasing scrutiny from environmental groups, the press and seafood buyers. At issue have been concerns about PCB levels in the fish, antibiotic use, the effects of escaped farmed salmon on...

Open kitchens connect chefs with their customers: visual access to meal preparation gives diners greater confidence in the process.(Trend WATCH)(Fuzio Universal Pasta)
June 1, 2005... As diners become more sophisticated and knowledgeable in their food choices, they also become more curious about the dishes they consume and the people who make them. The proliferation of restaurants featuring open kitchens provides diners with...

Detroit-area diners get the best seafood in the world: Matt Prentice's "source monger" buys nothing but top quality fish and ensures it gets impeccable care.(on the MENU)(Matt Prentice Restaurant Group)(Northern Lakes Seafood Co.)
June 1, 2005... When it's your name that's on the door, quality becomes really important. That's certainly the case with the seafood served at any of Matt Prentice's restaurants. The owner and founder of the eponymous Matt Prentice Restaurant Group in Bingham...

Wine and seafood make perfect partners: cross-merchandising can help nudge your customers toward dual purchases.(SeaFood UNIVERSITY)
June 1, 2005... As consumers' interest in wine continues to rise, so do your opportunities to cross-merchandise the store's wine offerings in your seafood department. Adams Beverage Group of Palm Springs, Calif., reports that adult Americans in 2003...

Farmed salmon: well-publicized health benefits and product versatility pull sales of this maligned fish out of the doldrums.(Species FOCUS)
June 1, 2005... Despite the chorus of voices raised against it these days, Atlantic salmon continues to enjoy widespread popularity in many quarters, and for a very simple reason. "Atlantic salmon is a great fish," says Jason Paine, general manager for...

Dungeness crab: record landings coincide with burgeoning demand from retailers and restaurants nationwide.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
June 1, 2005... Nick Furman, executive director of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, has been marveling for months now about the state's best-ever crab catch. Let's just say he's relieved there's a growing market for Dungeness that extends well beyond the...

Scales: two new models of user-friendly scales help minimize giveaway and labor.(Equipment FOCUS)(Ryco Equipment of Seattle)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Scales are the processing tools that determine whether the intended weight of a seafood product is the actual, finished weight. But, for seafood processors or distributors, it is not enough to know just the weight of their product; they need to...

P&0 Ports.(People IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... P&O Ports North America promoted David Morgan and Vincent Halterlein to senior-management positions. Morgan is senior vice president for the Gulf region, succeeding Patrick Morrissey, who is retiring after 25 years with the company. Halterlein...

Silliker.(People IN THE NEWS)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Mamatha Whitwell was appointed laboratory director of Silliker's Grand Prairie, Texas, testing facility. She manages scientific operations, quality systems and staff to help food companies in the Southwest ensure the safety and quality of their...

Carrier Transicold.(People IN THE NEWS)(Appointed Ted Amyuni as president.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Carrier Corp. appointed Ted Amyuni president of Carrier Transicold, a global provider of transport refrigeration and air conditioning. He succeeds Dick Laubenstein, who retired after more than 32 years with Carrier Corp. Amyuni is based at...

Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.(People IN THE NEWS)(Appointed Robert Miles as vice president .)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Robert Miles is the new vice president of real estate for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, based in Columbus, Ohio. Miles has 16 years of experience in foodservice real-estate development with such companies as Bravo Development, Darden...

FKI Logistex[R].(People IN THE NEWS)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... FKI Logistex[R] appointed Glen Chambers regional director and Paul Swietlinski business-development manager for the Canadian operations of its North American manufacturing-systems unit. Chambers will expand the company's strategic position as a...

KVP.(People IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... KVP's new president, Christopher S. Nigon, heads up the global operations of the Reading, Pa., manufacturer of modular plastic conveyor belts. Nigon was pre viously CEO of H&N Packaging.

Perfect seafood at home.(COMPLEMENTS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Seasoned by Land and Sea introduces Shellfish Seasoning Boiling Bags, all-natural mixes of herbs and purified sea salt in easy-to-use 2.25-ounce "teabags." Varieties include House Blend; five "boils"--Cajun, Italian, Lemon-Pepper, Greek and...

Unique product form.(VALUE-ADDED)
June 1, 2005... The Salmon Shank [TM] was designed for Cuisine Solutions by resident Chef Bruno Bertin, who created a shank out of the tail end of the salmon for signature foodservice applications. The large, frenched center backbone retains collagen, which is...

Super-size this.(VALUE-ADDED)
June 1, 2005... Icelandic[R] USA offers foodservice "Monster Size" coated fish fillets. The portions range from 7 ounces to a super-sized 11 ounces and include cod, haddock and Alaska pollock in three Icelandic [R] coating styles: Brewer's Choice [R]...

Window on flavor.(VALUE-ADDED)
June 1, 2005... Sea Star Seafood's Beacon Light line of frozen natural and breaded case-ready items sports new packaging for its four product categories: Great on the Grill (Atlantic or sockeye salmon and swordfish or yellowfin-tuna steaks), Boneless Fillets...

Natural progression.(VALUE-ADDED)
June 1, 2005... Carolina Classics Catfish will expand distribution of its Natural Catfish to upscale retailers and foodservice operators this summer. Formerly, the natural U.S. farm-raised catfish was supplied exclusively to Whole Foods Market. Carolina...

For big appetites.(VALUE-ADDED)
June 1, 2005... Saraband[R] of Iceland now offers Bob's Belly Buster Colossal Shrimp. Available in round and butterfly U/10 styles, the shrimp feature a light tempura batter that gives a delicate crunch while allowing the natural flavor to come through. The...

Give up giveaway.(SCALES)
June 1, 2005... Autocount[TM] automated counting systems from Gainco reduce giveaway and manual labor by providing faster, more accurate counts of conveyorized fresh or frozen product for boxing or bagging. "Double-count-detect" technology eliminates errors in...

Retailers' friend.(SCALES)
June 1, 2005... Available through Rice Lake Weighing Systems is the Ishida SR-2000 price-computing scale for retailers, featuring a large, 8.4-inch touch screen, user-selectable visuals and simple programming. Visuals on the screen can be customized with...

David McInerney: Sr. VP of merchandising and product development, FreshDirect.(One ON ONE)(Senior Vice President)(Interview)
June 1, 2005... Long after the dotcom bubble burst, online food retailer FreshDirect is still going strong, delivering flesh food daily to customers in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. FreshDirect was founded in 1999 and started deliveries in 2002. Sales...