Here's a glance at this week's can't-miss SeafoodSource news stories:
• The four-week, 17-state investigation into allegations of short-weight seafood, the results of which were released last week, exposed the prevalence of seafood fraud to U.S. consumers, and perhaps gave the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the push it needed to get serious about the problem. This week, SeafoodSource Assistant Editor April Forristall filed two follow-up reports on the investigation — one looked at the onslaught of mainstream media attention the investigation garnered and the other gauged reaction to the investigation, including whether the FDA will take action.
• There's an effort under way to rally support for creating a national seafood-marketing program to bolster consumer awareness, and potentially consumption, of U.S. seafood. Currently, the effort is focused on forming a national seafood-marketing coalition. The next step is to establish a national seafood-marketing fund, followed by identifying a legislative vehicle to attach the fund to and setting up nine regional boards to develop marketing goals and allocate funding. Check out my interview with Julie Decker, who's heading the effort on behalf of the United Fishermen of Alaska.
• In less than three weeks, the winners of the 2010 Seafood Prix d'Elite new products competition will be unveiled at the European Seafood Exposition. This week, SeafoodSource Contributing Editors Jason Holland and Chris Dove checked in with last year's winners, Deutsche See GmbH (best new retail product) and Alfocan S.A. (best new foodservice product). Deutsche See is looking to grow the static barbeque fish category by delivering two new leaf-wrapped fish fillet concepts to the European market after the success of its Salmon in Wooden Leaf, while Alfocan is taking its Crayfish Skewers to new markets worldwide.
• The fallout of British Seafood Group, which went into administration in February, continued to play out on Tuesday as one of its subsidiaries, Five Star Fish Ltd., was gobbled up by British poultry tycoon Ranjit Boparan. The acquisition comes two months after Boparan purchased iconic fish-and-chips chain Harry Ramsden's and more than a year after he netted the struggling Fishworks seafood restaurant chain.
• As Five Star Fish gets back on its feet, Russian Sea Group on Tuesday hit the road in search of investors. The company, which holds more than 10 percent of the Russian seafood market, is launching an initial public offering on the Russian Stock Exchange.
April 8, 2010
