Bensenville, Illinois, U.S.A.-based Fortune International has acquired Durham, North Carolina, U.S.A.-based seafood distributor Simply Fresh.
Simply Fresh is a processor and purveyor of fish and seafood and delivers fresh products to cities in North Carolina. Fortune said the acquisition will expand its capabilities in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast U.S. and give it new regional sourcing relationships.
"We are thrilled to welcome Simply Fresh into the Fortune family," Fortune International Founder and CEO Sean O’Scannlain said in a release. "Their dedication to providing the best customer service and the highest-quality seafood aligns perfectly with our mission to elevate meals and lives."
Simply Fresh was founded by Trey Bohn in 2006 and has grown into a regional distributor servicing restaurants throughout the “Research Triangle” area of North Carolina – which includes the cities of Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh forming the points of the region. Following Bohn's death in 2024, Jim Vassallo, a key employee who helped launch the company, stepped in to lead the business.
Vassallo will now serve as director of seafood in North Carolina for Fortune International subsidiary Fortune Fish & Gourmet.
“Trey built Simply Fresh on integrity, quality, and relationships. After his passing, my goal was to honor his legacy and support ... our team until we found the right partner,” Vassallo said. “Fortune International shares Trey’s values and vision, and I’m excited to continue this journey with them.”
Trey’s wife Jean Bohn – the owner of Simply Fresh – said the acquisition will help the company continue its work distributing fresh seafood in North Carolina.
“We look forward to leveraging this exciting new chapter to further strengthen our position in the market and to continue exceeding our customers’ expectations,” Jean said.
The exact terms of the deal were not disclosed.
O’Scannlain told SeafoodSource in August that the company planned to resume its planned acquisitions after U.S. tariffs settled and that there is a lot of pent-up demand in the industry for acquisitions.
“I think you will see us ramp up acquisitions in the next quarter or two,” O’Scannlain said at the time.
The latest acquisition follows a few others made in recent years.
In 2023, the company acquired Boston Sword and Tuna, and in 2022, it acquired D’artagnan Inc. to expand its distribution in the U.S. Northeast.
