Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Trident Seafoods and Ocean Beauty Seafoods are targeting different buyers with their salmon nugget products, with the former company aiming to get their salmon nuggets into U.S. schools and the latter company targeting retailers.
Trident executives recently attended the School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, where they encouraged U.S. school foodservice buyers to check out their company’s new Salmon Ocean Treasures Alaskan Salmon Nuggets.
“Trident’s core focus remains the promotion of Alaska pollock in a variety of forms within the child nutrition segment. We also believe there is an opportunity to expand into adjacent Alaska species and product forms, such as our new Salmon Ocean Treasures,” Trident Vice President of Marketing and Innovation Rafael Garibay told SeafoodSource. “Our goal is to encourage as many school districts as possible to continue promoting the consumption of Alaska seafood.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which buys large quantities of Alaskan salmon for the country’s National School Lunch Program and other federal nutrition programs, is another purchaser Trident is attempting to court with its breaded salmon nuggets.
“With the support of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, our intention is to approach the USDA once we validate commercial viability of the product,” Trident Vice President of Foodservice Sales Brian Head told SeafoodSource.
USDA said in April it would purchase more Alaska pollock, salmon, and other seafood for the National School Lunch Program and other federal food nutrition assistance programs.
“[This is a] truly welcome sign to not only the members of the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers [GAPP] but all those who wish to see more seafood served in schools,” GAPP CEO Craig Morris told SeafoodSource.
Additionally, under a final rule published in late April, USDA said it will allow schools to have greater flexibility with menu planning and an enhanced ability to purchase local seafood. The standards will be rolled out gradually between the 2025 and 2027 school years.
Trident’s salmon nuggets meet the “ever-changing NSLP Child Nutrition Guidelines while continuing to provide the same great-tasting products students have always loved,” Trident said in its marketing material to school buyers in Boston.
Head declined to comment on whether Trident is planning to approach other types of foodservice operations or expand into retail with the salmon nuggets but said Trident “continuously assesses and presents innovative products to our retail partners.”
Ocean Beauty Seafoods is opting for another route, targeting the retail market with its Echo Falls Smoked Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Nuggets, which won first place in the retail category at the 2024 Alaska Symphony of Seafood competition; Trident Seafoods’ Kraken Stash IPA Beer Battered Wild Alaska Pollock, meanwhile, came in first place in the foodservice category in the same competition.
Ocean Beauty’s smoked nuggets are sourced in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and then honey-cured “for the perfect subtle sweetness to pair with applewood smoke,” Ocean Beauty Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ron Christianson told SeafoodSource.
“We are looking for homes at retail but also exploring the perishable snack markets, as we believe this item can prosper in different segments of retail,” Christianson said.
Unlike Trident, Ocean Beauty is not targeting schools, but Christianson said he believes they are “an excellent snack item for college-aged students and for recreational activities,” as well as a “nice fit for wineries and the charcuterie trend.”
Maintaining a focus on retail, Ocean Beauty is attempting to reinvigorate the smoked salmon retail market, which experienced flat sales last year, according to Christianson, and is keen on introducing other new products as well.
“We are adding smoked salmon products that are primarily ingredients [and] continuing to innovate,” Christianson said.
Recent offerings include Echo Falls Maple Bourbon Hot Smoked Salmon and Echo Falls Applewood Smoked Wild Alaskan Salmon Sockeye Lox Bits and Pieces – both sold in 6-ounce packages.
The cold-smoked salmon lox bits are designed for topping bagels, blending into a quiche or scrambled eggs or dressing up “your favorite spread,” the company said.
