While covering a trade show, there's always one quote I glean from an interview that stands out above the rest.
At the International Boston Seafood Show in March, my quote-to-remember came from Lee French, VP of seafood merchandising for Price Chopper supermarkets, who said, "There are no sissies in seafood."
At the three-day European Seafood Exposition, which closed on Thursday, my favorite quote came from Flemming Knudsen, CEO of Royal Greenland, who said on Wednesday, "You're digging your own grave if you don't continue to develop new products."
There's a lot of truth to Knudsen's remark.
It's easy to be pessimistic in today's economy. Sure, the recession is forcing seafood companies to cut back. But innovative firms forge ahead, introducing new produces. As Knudsen aptly put it, "That is what will sustain us as a company five to 10 years from now."
Despite the recession, there were 97 entries in this year's Seafood Prix d'Elite new products competition, just as many as last year. That's an encouraging sign.
"You'd expect with an economic crisis that new product development wouldn't happen. But actually what's happening is [new products are] gaining more attention for a company," said Mary Larkin, VP of seafood expositions for event organizer Diversified Business Communications. "Innovation really does set a company apart from the competition."
Congratulations to Royal Greenland, Deutsche See, Alfocan and the other 2009 Seafood Prix d'Elite winners. New product development truly is the key to growing the seafood market.
Best regards,
Steven Hedlund
Editor
SeafoodSource
April 30, 2009
