Was it the catchy headline? "Seafood at drug stores?" by SeafoodSource contributing editor Christine Blank was this week's most-read story. Following in the footsteps of convenience chains, drug stores are ramping up their fresh and frozen food offerings to attract more customers, and some seafood companies are seizing the opportunity. Here's a look at this week's most popular stories:
1) Seafood at Walgreens? Some drug chains, including Walgreens, now devote several cases to frozen appetizers and entrées. Seafood is featured at one Walgreens outlet in an Orlando, Fla., suburb, including Gorton's All Natural Lemon Pepper Grilled Fillets and Gorton's Shrimp Bowls with rice or pasta. Frozen seafood entrée sales at drug stores increased 16.6 percent, to USD 1.7 million (EUR 1.3 million), in the 52 weeks ending 21 March, 2009.
2) Brussels or bust. Five days and counting to the 17th annual European Seafood Exposition. In Tuesday's commentary, SeafoodSource readers were told what to look out for at the three-day event. The SeafoodSource editorial team will be on site at the show to bring you the news as it happens. So if you can't make it to Brussels, be sure to check the Web site regularly for free news updates from the show floor.
3) Too much tuna? A New Jersey woman has alleged she sustained "extreme physical and emotional injuries" from a diet consisting almost exclusively of Chicken of Sea tuna from 1999 to 2004. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling allowing Deborah Fellner to sue Tri-Union Seafoods, parent company of Chicken of the Sea over mercury toxicity, moving her case forward.
4) Safer slurping: Wednesday's feature on irradiated oysters by SeaFood Business Associate Editor James Wright drew a lot of reader interest. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recognized irradiation as a safe way to rid oysters of harmful bacteria after research by University of Florida scientists proved its effectiveness. Irradiated oysters should be on the market soon.
5) Sysco thinks green: There was big news on the sustainable seafood front late last week. World Wildlife Fund has partnered with Sysco to help the foodservice distributor develop a sustainable seafood sourcing strategy. As part of the agreement, WWF will assess the way the Sysco's top 10 branded seafood species are purchased to ensure they originate from sustainable fisheries and fish farms.
April 23, 2009
