April 8, 2013 — There’s something in the air in the United States’ highest value fishing port, and it’s inspiring companies like Northern Wind, Marlees Seafood and Pier Fish to look beyond their traditionally commodity-driven businesses in search of bigger retail deals.
What’s pushing the change? It certainly isn’t that those commodities don’t make much money – in fact, New Bedford’s historic “Whaling City” port had the highest value catch of any US port for the 12th straight year in 2011, with $369 million in seafood sales, according to the US National Marine Fisheries Service.
But these suppliers told Undercurrent News they are seeing opportunities to do more with their operations.
Not only is Marlees transforming itself from a 90% scallop supplier into a full-service seafood company with 65% of its offerings in other items; Pier Fish Company is also broadening its horizons with a new-found focus on value added products; and Northern Wind seems to have seen the same opportunities in the marketplace as its competitors.
Northern Wind, which started out as a scalloper in 1987, has long since expanded into other categories and is in the process of expanding its marketing efforts and building a new processing plant, which will span 25,000 to 35,000 square feet when finished.
“Between our market research and the concepts we have, we feel there are opportunities in both foodservice and retail for product offering expansion,” newly-hired chief operating officer George Kouri told Undercurrent.
Read the full story at Undercurrent News