Beals, Maine, U.S.A-based A.C. Inc. Shellfish announced it has purchased two local seafood companies: Beals Lobster Company and Close to Coast Seafood, both located in nearby Jonesport, Maine.
The purchase of Beals Lobster Company adds four additional fishing vessels to support the company’s growing hardshell clam business, A.C. Inc said. The company has been operated by owner Becky Beal since 1986.
“We are seeing a substantial increase in demand for our hardshell ocean clam and mahogany clams from national retail buyers,” A.C. Inc Shellfish Vice-President and Co-Owner Patrick Robinson said. “We will now operate six boats, all stationed in the Beals-Jonesport area.”
Beal said she was ready to sell the company when the offer came in.
“After 35 years, it was the right time for me,” she said. “I am pleased the business will stay in the area and continue to serve our customers with high-quality Maine shellfish.”
A.C. Inc.’s purchase of Close to Coast, meanwhile will give the company access to five buying stations between Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada, and Milbridge, Maine. The company is also the largest buyer of periwinkles in the state of Maine.
“I couldn’t be happier to hand it off to the boys over at A.C. Inc. They run a first-class outfit,” Close to Coast Owner John Frazier said.
Robinson said A.C. Inc. plans to add three new buying stations this summer in Washington County, Maine.
A.C. Inc. Shellfish runs both lobster and hard-shell clam operations, and is one of the largest buyers of soft-shell clams in Maine. The company maintains its own transport fleet, shipping seafood from Maine to Boston six days a week.
“Both of these acquisitions bring these resources another step closer to retail and foodservice buyers,” the company said.
Photo courtesy of A.C. Inc Shellfish
