Seafood Business articles from May 2003

Seafood Business archives from May 2003

Holding their own. (Top 25 Seafood Suppliers).
May 1, 2003... Despite a challenging economic climate throughout 2002, several companies named on this year's SeaFood Business list of Top 25 North American seafood suppliers put some big numbers on the board--without acquiring other firms. New products...

Commerce may privatize seafood inspection program. (Food Safety).(plans to save dollars concerns members of Congress and others)
May 1, 2003... Talk of privatizing part of the U.S. Commerce Department's seafood-inspection program to save federal dollars is meeting a firestorm of opposition from the department, the seafood industry and some members of Congress. Opponents say...

U.S. Foodservice rebate scam probed. (Distribution).
May 1, 2003... Seafood buyers and suppliers will be extra vigilant about the rebates and promotional allowances in their purchasing contracts following an accounting scandal over rebates paid by suppliers to U.S. Foodservice, the country's second-largest food...

Retailers face suit for not labeling salmon as pigmented. (Late News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Three lawsuits, proposed as class actions, were filed in Seattle's King County Superior Court on April 23 against three of the nation's largest supermarket chains. Kroger, Safeway and Albertsons are accused of deceiving consumers by failing to...

Organic label for wild seafood mandated. (Late News).(passage of law for Organic Standards Board)
May 1, 2003... Wild seafood will be eligible to bear the organic label, according to a new provision President Bush signed into law April 16. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) successfully added to a defense-spending bill a measure requiring the National...

Red lobster adds steak-and-seafood combos. (Late News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Casual seafood dining chain Red Lobster added 13 dishes to its menu on April 21, including five steak and seafood combinations. The new dishes, which feature hand-selected, top-choice steaks, as well as entree salads and appetizers, are...

Icelandic USA to acquire shellfish importer Ocean to Ocean; purchase would help Icelandic diversify product line. (Supply).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Icelandic USA, a large supplier of imported frozen groundfish in Norwalk, Conn., plans to purchase Ocean to Ocean Seafood Sales of Virginia Beach, Va., for undisclosed terms, Icelandic Group announced to its shareholders April 9 in Reykjavik,...

Vietnam's basa industry offers U.S. catfish industry a trade proposal; Vietnam will cut basa exports if CFA drops antidumping charges. (Trade).(Catfish Farmers of America's agreement with Vietnamese Ministry of Fisheries and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers)
May 1, 2003... Representatives of Vietnam's basa and tra industry say they'd be willing to limit exports of their fish to the U.S. market in exchange for the Catfish Farmers of America withdrawing the antidumping petition it filed last year. On April 3,...

Koch Supplies. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Koch Supplies of Kansas City, Mo., expanded into northwest Arkansas by opening a new distribution center in Springdale serving processors in the south-central United States.

Slade Gorton & Co. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Slade Gorton & Co. of Boston acquired the facilities and business previously known as Kaelbel Wholesale, a fresh seafood handling/manufacturing business in Dania Beach, Fla. Slade Gorton is operating the business under the new name StrataSea.

Motivatit Seafoods. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Motivatit Seafoods in February received the American Tasting Institute's 2003 Gold Taste Award for its Gold Band Oysters[R], produced with a patented high-pressure process.

East Coast Seafood, Slade Gorton & Co., Seafax and the National Fisheries Institute report that more than $25,000 was raised for the George Davidson Memorial Fisheries Scholarship Fund in this year's Charity Hockey Game at Harvard during the International Boston Seafood Show. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... East Coast Seafood, Slade Gorton & Co., Seafax and the National Fisheries Institute report that more than $25,000 was raised for the George Davidson Memorial Fisheries Scholarship Fund in this year's Charity Hockey Game at Harvard during the...

The Chignik Seafood Producers Alliance. (Biz Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The Chignik Seafood Producers Alliance won the 2003 Best Practices and Innovations in Seafood award at Alaska's second annual Business of SeaFOOD Forum and Tradeshow. CSPA was recognized for establishing a cooperative in the Chignik salmon...

Aurora cuts corporate staff; sale of frozen seafood brands expected soon. (Supply).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Aurora Foods, producers of Van de Kamp's[R] and Mrs. Paul's[R] frozen seafood, has put its frozen brands on the block and cut its corporate staff by 25 percent to make the company more profitable. The staff cuts are expected to save Aurora $10...

Philly's famed Striped Bass files Chapter 11 bankruptcy; Neil Stein pledges to keep his restaurants open as he pays off debts. .(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Day-to-day operations at Striped Bass, Philadelphia's nationally acclaimed seafood restaurant, have not changed despite the owner's March filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, says a spokeswoman for the restaurant s owner. The...

Calif. restaurants go up against Prop. 65. (Line Items).(warnings about methylmercury in seafood)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... California's attorney general in early April filed suit to force more than one dozen restaurant chains, including Darden Restaurants and Landry's, to warn consumers of methylmercury in seafood. The original lawsuit, filed in January, targets...

Seafood Choices Alliance touts wild salmon.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Chefs subscribing to the Seafood Choices Alliance will participate in a "Wild about salmon" promotion this month, preparing wild West Coast and Alaska salmon in the demo kitchens of select Bloomingdale's across the country. Chefs also will...

Landry's acquires aquarium. (Line Items).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Landry's seafood restaurant chain bid $13.6 million to buy Ocean Journey, a 4-year-old Denver aquarium, in a bankruptcy-court auction in March. Landry's President and CEO Tilman Fertitta says he intends to bring his trademark entertainment and...

Good news, bad news on mercury. (Line Items).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Most women of childbearing age and young children in the United States have inconsequential levels of mercury in their blood, reports a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. But 8 percent of women have concentrations above...

Facts & figures. (News Line).(nutrition facts comparing sardines and low-fat milk)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
May 1, 2003... Facts & Figures 351 Milligrams of calcium in a 3.75-ounce can of sardines in oil 300 Milligrams of calcium in an 8-ounce glass of 1 percent low-fat milk 250 International units of vitamin D in a 3.75-ounce...

Scallop processors join forces; new company operates under Mar-Lees name. (Processing).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Mar-Lees Seafood and Atlantic Coast Fisheries Corp., two of New Bedford's largest scallop processors, merged their operations early last month, forming a new company with annual sales of more than $65 million. The terms of the deal were not...

Ailing West Coast shrimpers ask buyers to lend a hand; but the ASDA has not committed to purchasing domestic pink shrimp. (Trade).(American Seafood Distributors Association)
May 1, 2003... Beleaguered West Coast shrimp fishermen are hoping the American Seafood Distributors Association will provide them the kind of support it has given the Southern shrimp industry. Early last month, the Western Shrimp Alliance, a group formed...

West Coast pink shrimp is a deal, despite fishery's slow start; Louisiana's 2003 spring inshore shrimp fishery is scheduled to open this month. (Shrimp).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Domestic West Coast pink shrimp is a bargain right now. In mid-April, when the fishery was just getting under way, frozen Pandalus jordani was priced in the mid-$1 range for over 500-count shrimp. Meanwhile, fresh product was tagged in the...

Restrictions hit West Coast sole fishery; as landings increase, prices of fresh halibut finally come down. (Groundfish).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Harvesting restrictions designed to protect ailing West Coast groundfish stocks are hindering the sole and cod fisheries but having minimal effect on the market. In Oregon, Pacific Dover sole landings, which totaled 1.2 million pounds in...

Dungeness crab supplies abundant: ice delays the start of Newfoundland's long-awaited snow crab fishery. (Shellfish).
May 1, 2003... There's plenty of Dungeness crab to be had this spring, thanks to productive Oregon and Washington harvests and the fishery's late start (the 2002-03 fishery kicked off Dec. 20, 10 days later than the 2001-02 fishery). In Oregon, Dungeness...

Catfish comeback: production, prices on the rise. (Focus).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... After trending downward over the past several months, catfish prices are up. In March, domestic catfish farmers received an average of 59 cents a pound, up 5 cents from the same month a year ago. As a result, retailers and foodservice...

Copper River salmon is on the way: as grilling season nears, demand for wild and farmed salmon soars. (Salmon).(Alaskan salmon fishery opening as demand for salmon strengthens)
May 1, 2003... The wait is almost over. Alaska's Copper River salmon fishery is scheduled to kick off in mid-May. On May 1, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will announce the start date. Last year, the fishery opened on the second Monday of the month....

How to help seafood buyers. (Editor's Note).(Editorial)
May 1, 2003... Seafood buyers have a regular routine to their workday. Depending on their company, some seafood buyers have daily meetings in the morning, others have them in the afternoon. Some buyers have time to talk on the phone with new vendors, some...

MSC refutes Chilean sea bass claim.(Marine Stewardship Council)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... In a recent (unattributed) advertisement in your March issue, readers may have inadvertently concluded that the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) endorsed the claim that "the world's supply of Chilean sea bass is sustainable." In this...

Proactive approach ensures seafood safety. (Issues & Answers).(controlling the risks of listeria in seafood)
May 1, 2003... Seafood is one of the safest, healthiest foods in America. Thanks in large part to programs like HACCP (hazard analysis critical control points), the seafood industry provides American families with an increasingly safer and more wholesome...

The fastest swimmer always wins the race. (Trade Forum).(competition in global seafood markets)
May 1, 2003... One way to win a race is to run faster," says Antonio Diaz, president of Ocean Garden Products. "The other way is to make your competitor run slower." Indeed, slowing down tough international competitors is what the U.S. antidumping laws...

Jack's Grill serves seafood education; Jack Gridley adds to the bottom line in Dorothy Lane's seafood department. (Seafood Star).(Dorothy Lane Market adds grill station to seafood department)
May 1, 2003... The business philosophy at Dorothy Lane Market, an upscale Ohio retailer, is "to sell the best products and quality that we can find, backed with the best service." Jack Gridley, director of meat and seafood for the retailer's three...

Airfreight costs soar for seafood; fresh Atlantic salmon fillets and live American lobster are most affected by price increases. (Trend Watch).
May 1, 2003... Shaw's Crab House in downtown Chicago and Schaumburg, Ill., is in a pickle. Rising airfreight costs are driving up prices of the fresh seafood it menus. At the same time, the lagging economy is preventing the restaurant from passing the price...

Florida restaurant celebrates state's coastal bounty; De La Tierra's one-of-a-kind menu specialties are based on abundant local seafood and produce. (On the Menu).
May 1, 2003... The old real-estate adage "location, location, location--also suits the restaurant trade. In the case of De La Tierra in Delray Beach, Fla., location drives the entire menu. De La Tierra ("of the earth" in Spanish) is the new specialty...

High receiving standards ensure product quality; make sure your vendors understand your criteria for incoming orders. (SeaFood University).(seafood purchase and supply)
May 1, 2003... Experienced seafood department managers say successful ordering is matter of selecting the proper vendors and building a solid, standards-based relationship with them. Bob Kitagawa, seafood buyer for Bristol Farms, a Los Angeles specialty...

Wild salmon: increased demand for high-quality wild salmon is forcing change in a struggling, tradition-bound industry. (Species Focus).
May 1, 2003... Walking through the corporate offices of Wards Cove Packing on the east shore of Lake Union in Seattle has always been like taking a walk back in time. On the wall next to the receptionist, a framed headline from the front page of the...

Stone crab: the Florida favorite is tough to come by these days. (Product Spotlight).
May 1, 2003... As the legend goes, when the under of Miami's famous Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant first heard of a stone crab back in 1921 he said, "Nobody will eat them." Good thing he changed his mind. Joe Weiss decided to boil the crabs and became the...

Plant construction: seafood processors are designing plants with an emphasis on efficiency and quality control. (Equipment Focus).(Plant upgrades take teamwork)
May 1, 2003... In spite of the downturned economy, which seems to have stunted prospects for many new business ventures, there are some bright spots. Seafood processors and distributors that have been planning expansion or relocation have risen above the...

Maritime Products. (People In The News).(Sarah Harris appointed manager at Maritime Products International)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Sarah Harris was appointed manager of national sales and product development for Maritime Products International of Newport News, Va. Harris' responsibilities include expanding markets and developing new products for the seafood producer and...

Reed Smith. (People In The News).(Richard E. Gutting Jr. joins Reed Smith)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Richard E. Gutting Jr., former president of the National Fisheries Institute, joined the Washington, D.C., office of Reed Smith as counsel in the Government Services group. Gutting advises trade associations and other corporate clients on a...

Marine Harvest. (People In The News).(Philip Firzpatick named group managing director)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Philip Fitzpatrick was named business group managing director for Marine Harvest's properties in the Americas. Marine Harvest, which is owned by Nutreco, serves customers in Canada, the United States, Europe and Japan. Fitzpatrick has held...

Rockfish Seafood Grill. (People In The News).(Virginia Pivonka responsible for seafood procurement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Virginia Pivonka joined Rockfish Seafood Grill in Dallas. She is responsible for buying all food and specializes in seafood procurement for the 20 Rockfish restaurants. Pivonka worked for 19 years at Landlock Seafood, a seafood distributor in...

American Frozen Food Institute. (People In The News).(Officials appointed to board)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Robert Brubaker, board chairman and CEO of King & Prince Seafood Corp., was elected chairman of the board for the American Frozen Food Institute. Brubaker previously served as first vice-chairman of the institute's board. Ricardo Alvarez,...

AmeriCold Logistics. (People In The News).(Andy Schuyler and Edward Brunot appointed)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Andy Schuyler was appointed VP of lead logistics services for AmeriCold Logistics and handles development of multi-vendor consolidation programs with retailers, wholesalers and foodservice distributors. Schuyler is joined by Edward Brunot, who...

Heatcraft Refrigeration Products. (People In The News).(Gary Anderson appointed director of business excellence)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Gary Anderson was appointed director of business excellence for Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC. Anderson leads business development for the company and represents Heat craft Worldwide Refrigeration in the company's business-excellence...

King & Prince Seafood Corp. (People In The News).(Greg Currier named director of human resources)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Greg Currier was named director of human resources for King & Prince Seafood Corp. Currier has 21 years experience in the human resources field, including positions with Frito-Lay, H.E. Butt Grocery Co. and Linsang Manufacturing.

Slade Gorton & Co. (People In The News).(Jacl Stanton, Patrice Flanagan, Maureen Pilsmaker, Allen Nickerson)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Slade Gorton announces four recent promotions. Jack Stanton was promoted to executive vice president of seafood procurement; Patrice Flanagan was named VP, fresh fish procurement; Maureen Pilsmaker was named assistant VP, human resources; and...

G.F. Higgins. (People In The News).(death of Gerald Francis Higgins)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Gerald Francis Higgins, 58, owner of the G.F. Higgins Seafood Import Co. in Pembroke, Mass., for 25 years, died March 2 at home. Higgins was also a member of the National Fisheries Institute.

Great stuff. (Value-Added).
May 1, 2003... Trident's new stuffed Alaskan Buffet Fillets feature a savory crabmeat stuffing atop a choice of Alaska salmon or whitefish. The stuffed, 20-ounce fillet can be portioned for serving in high-volume feeding operations. Pre-portioned product is...

Party time. (Value-Added).
May 1, 2003... Bright Water Seafoods introduces seafood cheese balls in three flavors: hot smoked shrimp and almond, lox and pecan, or crab with spinach and artichoke. The shrimp-flavored ball is made of hot-smoked white shrimp (Penaeus setiferus) and pink...

Mangia! (Value-Added).
May 1, 2003... Hunter Marine Foods premiers a retail line of frozen Italian seafood entrees and sauces produced in Italy from natural ingredients and marketed under the Sailor Marine brand. The two-portion entrees include Spaghetti with Vongole Clam Sauce,...

High-tech heat transfer. (Processing).(Hydro-Flow rotary-drum cooker-coolers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Lyco Manufacturing touts a breakthrough in rotary-drum cooker-coolers with its Hydro-Flow air-and water-injection system, which offers a thermal-transfer capability up to 50 percent higher and a processing footprint up to 67 percent smaller...

Gain an edge. (Processing).
May 1, 2003... Bettcher Industries' AutoEdge blade sharpener restores dull circular blades to their original factory edge. Microprocessor-controlled technology achieves optimum blade sharpness with minimum grinding, extending blade life. The machine holds...

Calendar 2003.(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... MAY May 14-16 * All Things Organic[TM] Conference and Trade Show Austin Convention Center Austin, Texas Contact Lisa Murray, sales manager Diversified Business Communications (207) 842-5468 www.atoexpo.com...

Jason Clay: acting VP, World Wildlife Fund. (One On One).(environmental impacts of shrimp farming)(Interview)
May 1, 2003... Most environmental groups regard shrimp farming as a destructive industry that merits being targeted for extinction. Greenpeace, for example, calls farmed shrimp "a devastating delicacy." But amidst the heated rhetoric, Dr. Jason Clay is a...