Oyster giant Taylor Shellfish Farms has expanded its processing and production capability with two new acquisitions.
Shelton, Washington, U.S.A.-based Taylor Shellfish last week purchased Ekone Oyster Company in Bay Center, Washington, for an undisclosed amount. It will officially take over the processor on 1 March. Ekone’s processing facility is 15,000 square feet, plus the company sports an additional 7,700 square feet of nursery buildings and several coolers, freezers, dry good storage buildings, shops and truck storage.
“Taylor Shellfish has been lacking for upland facilities to support our Willapa operations, so these are very welcome resources for us,” Bill Dewey, director of public affairs for Taylor Shellfish, told SeafoodSource.
Ekone Oyster Company produces live in-shell oysters, fresh shucked oysters and an array of smoked fish and shellfish. Taylor will continue using the Ekone brand and products, and will service Ekone’s customers.
“The Ekone Oyster Company operates an excellent business and its brand is well regarded for its quality products. Its variety of smoked products are unique and have a strong following,” said Bill Taylor, CEO of Taylor Shellfish Farms. “We see growth opportunities for the business and Taylor Shellfish will benefit from the increased capacity of the Ekone processing facilities.”
Nick and Joanne Jambor, who founded the company in 1982, will continue to oversee the business and employees in the months ahead to ensure a smooth transition, according to a statement from Taylor Shellfish. While Ekone already has 50 employees, “We believe we will be adding jobs, in addition to the existing employee team,” Taylor said.
Taylor Shellfish also acquired Acme Seafood in Bow, Washington, last November. Acme’s 140 acres of tidelands produced between 80,000 and 100,000 pounds of Manila clams annually, but oyster production was highly variable.
“Prior to the sale, there was little to no harvesting occurring as all the marketable size shellfish had been harvested,” Dewey said.
“This property will be good for growing both manila clams and oysters,” Taylor co-owner Paul Taylor said in an article in the company’s newsletter. “In anticipation of the sale, we planted some Pacific oyster seed on the property last summer and this crop is looking amazing, in terms of both growth and survival.”
