Seafood Business articles from March 2006

Seafood Business archives from March 2006

Green giant.(sea food marketing by Wal-Mart Stores Inc)
March 1, 2006... Wal-Mart uses its purchasing power to deliver shrimp, salmon, tilapia and many other seafood products at "everyday low prices" to millions of consumers worldwide. But what if the globe's largest retailer used its leverage to improve the...

NMFS gives marketing another go.(MARKETING)
March 1, 2006... The U.S. government is taking another crack at seafood marketing. The National Marine Fisheries Service in January recommended a framework for forming species-specific seafood marketing councils. In a Jan. 24 Federal Register notice, NMFS...

Contessa sues former salesmen for fraud.(LEGAL)
March 1, 2006... Contessa Premium Foods filed a lawsuit last month alleging that two former sales representatives stole trade secrets and helped launch a competitive frozen-food company while under Contessa's employ. The complaint was filed Feb. 6 in Los...

Enaca USA, Mountain Stream unite tilapia operations.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Miami-based tilapia producers Enaca USA and Mountain Stream Tilapia will consolidate their tilapia-farming operations in Central and South America. The unified company, Aquamericas, will operate out of Enaca USA's Miami sales office, says Jim...

Ladex, Sea Farms International join forces.(Late NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Farmed-shrimp producers Ladex LLC and Sea Farms International announced a strategic alliance Feb. 16. The integrated company will become one of the largest suppliers of farmraised white shrimp and value-added shrimp products in Central and...

U.S. inspectors find more illegal lobsters.(Late NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Seventeen of the 37 trucks U.S. authorities inspected during a five-day pre-Valentine's Day sweep at the U.S.-Canada border in Calais, Maine, were carrying illegally harvested live lobsters. This comes less than two months after a six-day sweep...

MSC endorses Alaska cod fishery.(Late NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Alaska's Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands freezer-longline cod fishery early last month became the world's first cod fishery certified as well managed and sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. It is the fourth U.S. fishery to receive...

Florida girl nets role in new LJS ad: wins "Three Free Shrimp" tongue-twister contest.(Long John Silver)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Twelve-year-old Holly Chelette of Keystone Heights, Fla., won Long John Silver's "Three Free Shrimp Tongue-Twister Challenge" and will appear in a national TV commercial later this year. Chelette was one of 10 finalists, all age 12 or...

Beaver Street Fisheries.(Biz BRIEFS)
March 1, 2006... Beaver Street Fisheries was named 2005 "Supplier of Year" for WaI-Mart's seafood and deli departments.

Ocean Cuisine International.(Biz BRIEFS)
March 1, 2006... Ocean Cuisine International launched a new Web site, SpiritedSeafood.com, showcasing its co-branding partnerships with Bacardi USA and Corona[R].

IncredibleFish.(Biz BRIEFS)
March 1, 2006... Starting this month, NW 43rd St. Inc., which finalized its management buyout of IncredibleFresh Miami Seafood Wholesale in September, will be doing business under the trade name IncredibleFish.

Surefish.(Biz BRIEFS)
March 1, 2006... Sysco designated Surefish of Seattle as an approved auditing agency for seafood under its independent audit program.

Robert Wholey & Co.(Biz BRIEFS)
March 1, 2006... Robert Wholey & Co. of Pittsburgh sold its Ucluelet, British Columbia, fish-processing plant to a partnership of Canadian fishermen and processors.

ConAgra sells refrigerated meats business: seafood brands Louis Kemp, Meridian, Singleton unaffected by reorganization.(SUPPLY)
March 1, 2006... ConAgra Foods' reorganization, announced in February, will not affect its seafood business, say company officials. ConAgra, one of the nation's largest packaged-foods companies, owns the Louis Kemp, Meridian and Singleton seafood brands....

Study probes public attitude about surimi: NFI, producers seek ways around "imitation" tag.(National Fisheries Institute)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Surimi producers may soon present the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with a new name for marketing their product--one without the word "imitation" on the packaging. The surimi committees of the National Fisheries Institute and Genuine...

Facts & figures.(seafood)(Table)
March 1, 2006... Facts & FIGURES 5 Length of the "Sacred Cod," the pine carving hanging from the ceiling of the Massachusetts State House, in feet 222 Age of the Sacred Cod, in years 1895 Year the...

Shellfish suppliers take on Capitol Hill: hard-hit Gulf oyster farmers seek federal assistance.(SUPPLY)
March 1, 2006... Shellfish industry representatives from the Gulf Coast went to Washington, D.C., in February to lobby Capitol Hill for more hurricane-recovery support. Oyster growers requested an additional $110 million from the Emergency Conservation...

Morey's wins grand prize in Alaska Symphony of Seafood: marinated Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon named best new product.(MARKETING)
March 1, 2006... Morey's Seafood International took top honors at the Alaska Symphony of Seafood's annual new products competition. Winners were announced at the Gala Soiree held on Feb. 4 in Anchorage, Alaska. The Golden Valley, Minn., company's Marinated...

N.C. explores requiring seafood origins on menus: restaurateur calls the idea an operational "nightmare".(FOODSERVICE)
March 1, 2006... A local lawmaker hopes North Carolina will soon consider a law requiring restaurants to print on their menus the origins of the seafood they serve. State Rep. William Wainwright, co-chairman of the North Carolina Joint Legislative...

Magazine honors Mitchell.(Line ITEMS)
March 1, 2006... Cameron Mitchell won the Richard Melman Award at Restaurant Hospitality magazine's Concepts of Tomorrow Conference, The award, which was presented by Melman, founder and chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, honors "innovative concepts...

Chef's salmon/Dungeness dish scores.(Line ITEMS)
March 1, 2006... Chef Pascal Sauton's recipe, "Oregon Salmon Effeuillee with Truffled Dungeness Crab Nage," won him the Oregon Seafood Chef Competition on Feb. 4. Sauton, co-owner and executive chef of Carafe Restaurant in Portland, Ore., will now serve as the...

Good dogs get lobster.(Blue Seal Feeds new lobster menu)
March 1, 2006... Blue Seal Feeds of Muscatine, Iowa, introduced lobster "bisque-its," the newest addition to its dog-biscuit line. The concept, devised by the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine and Saltwater Marketing of Falmouth, Maine, is "geared...

Phillips adds flesh division: manufacturer rep joins list of services.(SUPPLY)
March 1, 2006... Phillips Foods in early February unveiled Phillips Fresh, a division sourcing fresh seafood from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Basin and South America. Phillips also announced a new manufacturer-representative division. The...

Supervalu and investors acquire Albertsons: competition from non-traditional grocers triggers the $17.4-billion deal.(RETAIL)
March 1, 2006... A group of investors led by Supervalu agreed to purchase Albertsons for $17.4 billion in cash, stock and debt in late January, signifying a momentous shift in the ever-changing supermarket landscape. The deal, expected to close by midyear,...

Something: fishy.(News LINE)(Cartoon)
March 1, 2006... "IF THIS IS INHUMANE... I WONDER WHAT HUMANE TREATMENT IS LIKE?" [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Wild American Shrimp makes inroads with TV ad campaign: nationally aired commercial is paying off, says shrimp marketer.(MARKETING)
March 1, 2006... Wild American Shrimp, the marketing arm of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, says its advertising campaign is beginning to pay off, thanks, in part, to a TV commercial that aired nationally on the Food Network during the holidays. Prices of...

Black tiger market can't escape basics of economics: availability is up and prices are down, despite higher importing costs.(shrimp market conditions)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Trade obstacles, such as tariffs and Customs' new continuous-bond policy, are altering the landscape of the shrimp-importing business. But the basics of supply and demand still apply. "Since duties [were enacted in 2004], the market has...

Mudbug season bleak: drought, hurricanes hurt industry.(FOCUS)
March 1, 2006... Mother Nature delivered a devastating one-two punch to Louisiana's crawfish industry last year, which is expected to result in a sub-average harvest this year. Louisiana yields about 70 million pounds of farmed and 15 million to 30 million...

Demand for kings remains strong: prices of Southeast Alaska troll-caught chinooks continue to climb.(SALMON)
March 1, 2006... Southeast Alaska's king troll fishery, North America's only year-round salmon fishery, is capitalizing on the renewed popularity of wild salmon at a time when demand is usually lackluster. The prized chinook is fetching more than it's commanded...

Short season limits New England groundfish: frozen cod imports fall 5 percent in 2005.(WHITEFISH)
March 1, 2006... Expect tight supplies of flesh groundfish as new regulations again cut New England fishermen's days at sea. In February, the New England Fishery Management Council passed Framework 42 to reduce mortality of cod and yellowtail flounder in...

Demand lagging for Canadian snow crab: imports and domestic harvest both fall.(SHELLFISH)
March 1, 2006... A low market price for snow crab is good news to East Coast suppliers. The bad news is that fewer customers are seeking the crustacean. Inventories of frozen product are still abundant from last season, which is keeping prices down,...

Sustainability on fast-forward.(Editor's NOTE)
March 1, 2006... Six years ago I thought it would take at least a decade to see any progress on the sustainable-seafood movement. This industry is so large and fragmented that even the definition of sustainability varies, depending upon the companies involved....

Some big fish are going green: what's increasingly clear is that environmental groups have suddenly found a winning formula to influence the purchasing decisions of some very significant buyers.(One Man's OPINION)
March 1, 2006... After years of targeting high-end chefs and consumers, the sustainable-seafood movement seems to have pit pay dirt with some very big fish. This February, some big-name retailers and one large foodservice distributor announced that they are...

Seafood producers should reconsider school lunch: if marketers aren't prepared to make the effort to differentiate their products, evaluating seafood by price will be school foodservice buyers' only option.(Marketing FORUM)
March 1, 2006... I've spent a lot of time in school cafeterias lately, talking with kids about fish. It's been interesting to learn what the next generation thinks about food, and about fish in particular. If you haven't been back to school in a while, you and...

The effects of carbon monoxide on fish: a look at various methods of treating seafood with industrial CO and filtered smoke.(Seafood FAQ)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... Sushi's burgeoning popularity in the United States has revolutionized demand for flesh tuna--eye-catching, ruby-red yellowfin looking so fresh you'd swear it was swimming yesterday. Because color greatly determines the value of tuna, buyers are...

Celebrities pack a marketing punch: suppliers, agencies engage big names to plug their seafood products.(Trend WATCH)
March 1, 2006... Celebrities are everywhere, and the products they wear and consume can have widespread influence on a public eager to emulate famous people. If you're in the seafood industry and trying to give your product an extra edge of credibility and...

Nimble Claim Jumper stays on top of trends: health concerns and ethnic flavors spark seafood sales on chain's traditional American-style menu.
March 1, 2006... Executive Chef John Merlino turned to seafood to freshen Claim Jumper Restaurant's Old West menu theme, highlighted by traditional American-style comfort food. He finds seafood meets consumers' demand for innovative, healthful offerings and is...

Savvy retailers offer full- and self-serve seafood: combos can meet the needs of both the store and its customers.
March 1, 2006... Grocers base the service level in their seafood department on their competition, market demographics and store size. For now, there is no clear winner in the ongoing debate over whether retailers should incorporate full-service or...

Pacific halibut: quota system pumps steady supply of fresh Alaska fish into U.S. market.
March 1, 2006... It's a fresh game, now." That's how one Northwest seafood seller describes the market for Pacific halibut these days. A well-established quota system ensures a nine-month fishing season in Alaska, which accounts for 80 percent of North...

Bream: this farmed fish from the Mediterranean gets the royale treatment from upscale chefs.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
March 1, 2006... Bream, Sparus auratus, is an elite Mediterranean import, long prized by European chefs. In recent years, it has found its way onto the menus of white-tablecloth U.S. restaurants, where it is billed by its French name, daurade, or daurade...

Welcome back to the seafood show: a world of seafood is on display at the domestic industry's premier sourcing event.(IBBS VISITOR'S GUIDE)
March 1, 2006... The doors to the 24th annual International Boston Seafood Show open on Sunday, March 12 in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in the city's Seaport district. This is the second year of Seafood Processing America, which is collocated...

2006 conference schedule: foodservice, retail and food-safety tracks ensure a learning experience for everyone.(IBSS VISITOR'S GUIDE)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... Buyers at the International Boston Seafood Show have an opportunity to do more than source products. The 2006 conference program offers a lineup of timely topics designed to help seafood professionals improve their bottom line by gaining a...

Conference sessions at a glance.(IBSS VISITOR'S GUIDE)(Table)
March 1, 2006... Conference sessions at a glance Session name March 12 March 13 March 14 FREE KEYNOTE ADDRESS Ken Schmidt, former director of communications, Harley-Davidson Motor Co. 11 am-Noon...

Seafood buyer's sourcing directory: this cross-referenced guide to companies can help you pinpoint the species and product forms you're after.(IBSS VISITOR'S GUIDE)
March 1, 2006... Looking for a particular seafood species or a special type of value-added product at the show, but you're just not sure what companies offer the item you want? Use the directory below to make your search easier. Listed here in alphabetical...

Tools of the trade for processors: Seafood Processing America lets buyers focus on the technology, equipment and services they need.(SPA VISITOR'S GUIDE)
March 1, 2006... Seafood Processing America, which debuted last year alongside the International Boston Seafood Show, returns to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from March 12 to 14. Admission to Seafood Processing America also gains you free entry...

Equipment buyer's directory: use this cross-referenced exhibitor list to locate the products and services showcased at SPA.(SPA VISITOR'S GUIDE)
March 1, 2006... Seafood Processing America, a section of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center dedicated to the needs of seafood processors and distributors, makes for easy shopping. All the tools of the trade are right there, along with related...

Nordic Group.(People IN THE NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Management of the Nordic Group's foodservice sales has reorganized. Lisa King was promoted to director of sales and Stephen Olson was hired as director of sales and procurement. King most recently was key accounts manager. Olson brings 15...

Byrd International.(People IN THE NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Byrd International of Berlin, Md., appointed Frank Conforti national sales manager. Robert Gregory and Kaye Nagel-Wood continue to manage their Northeast and Southeast territories, respectively, and report to Conforti.

Beaver Street Fisheries.(People IN THE NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Mark Frisch was named VP and sales manager of Beaver Street Fisheries in Jacksonville, Fla. Frisch assumes responsibility for the company's seafood and meat sales and marketing strategies and operations. He is the fourth-generation Frisch to...

Clear Springs Foods.(Margaret Horton promoted as sales service supervisor)(Cally Parrott promoted to director of corporate relations)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Clear Springs Foods, the world's largest producer of aquacultured rainbow trout, announces several staff changes. Ed White joined Clear Springs as VP of operations. White has worked for Kraft Foods and spent the past 20 years with ConAgra Foods...

In memoriam.(People IN THE NEWS)(Obituary)
March 1, 2006... Frank Foley, second-generation owner of the 100-year-old Foley Fish Co. of Boston, passed away Feb. 10 at the age of 92. Foley joined the company in 1936 after graduating from Harvard University. His seafood career spanned 65 years, and he was...

Distinctive dumplings.(Pacific Giant new shrimp products)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Pacific Giant introduces Seafood Dumplings for retail or foodservice. Shrimp, mussels and calamari are wrapped in distinctive seaweed-flavored pasta. Unlike traditional Asian dumplings, these contain no pork or pork oil, just seafood. The...

Make a splash on the menu.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Clear Springs Foods adds Splash![TM] Parmesan Crusted Rainbow Trout Fillets[R] to its Splash![TM] Flavor Glazed & Crusted Fillet line. The Parmesan Crusted Fillets, guaranteed 100 percent boneless, are marinated and coated with Parmesan cheese...

Comfort food.(Biscuit Batter)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... New for foodservice from Icelandic[R] USA is Southern Style Biscuit Batter[TM] seafood, with the buttery taste of hot, Southern biscuits. The battered products come in two varieties: 4- and 8-ounce catfish fillets, 3- and 5-ounce ocean perch...

Optimize production.(FMC FoodTech new LINK Process Analysis technology)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... FMC FoodTech's LINK[TM] Process Analysis is an addition to its LINK IT-based processing-optimization tool. LINK Process Analysis logs data for the production line, allowing processors to save the complete production history in case of product...

Nautical merchandiser.(RETAIL DISPLAY)
March 1, 2006... Blue Crab Bay Co. offers wooden display boats to boost sales in the seafood department. The 12-inch-deep boats come in two sizes: The freestanding full boat is 6 feet tall and the tabletop version is 3 feet tall. Built of pine with luaun...

True colors.(Promolux Lighting International)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Promolux Lighting International designs lamps specifically for seafood displays. Unlike fluorescent lamps, which give seafood an unappealing yellow-green hue, Promolux lighting balances color output to enhance the natural shades in fillets and...

Calendar 2006.(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... MARCH March 12-14 * International Boston Seafood Show Boston Convention and Exhibition Center Boston Contact Diversified Business Communications (207) 842-5504; fax (207) 842-5505 www.bostonseafood.com March...

Michael Bavota: seafood buyer, AGAR Supply.(Interview)
March 1, 2006... Michael Bavota knows seafood. During his 30-plus years in the industry as a retail buyer and merchandiser, wholesale buyer, chef, freelance writer and cookbook author, Bavota has devoted himself to educating others about seafood. His latest...