Grocers are going all out this year to capitalize on sales during the Lenten season, offering discounts on a wide variety of fish and shellfish.
Some retailers got a head start on sales for Lent, which officially started 17 February, by holding special Valentine’s Day weekend sales. “We had a three-day sale kicking off Lent, and it is was a crazy weekend since it was Valentine’s Day,” says Marty Gaul, seafood buyer and merchandiser for Heinen’s Fine Foods, Warrensville Heights. Ohio.
Heinen’s took the approach of discounting several different types of seafood to cater to a variety of tastes. “We have bay scallops, shrimp, our own Take & Bake Tilapia Dijon fillets, and Norwegian salmon fillets. We are trying to change it up a bit,” Gaul said.
Heinen’s 12 February through 14 February specials included its Tilapia Dijon for USD 7.99 a pound (a savings of USD 2.00 a pound), Sea Cuisine Crusted Seafood Fillets: two for USD 10.00, all natural bay scallops for USD 5.99 per pound, and North Atlantic frozen boneless cod loins for USD 5.99 a pound.
Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., is also offering a variety of “Savings on Favorites for Lent”, according to its 17 February through 23 February circular. Safeway is selling fresh catfish fillets for USD 4.99 per pound, jumbo raw shrimp, 21/25 count for USD 5.99 per pound, and fresh wild swordfish steaks for USD 7.99 a pound.
Hannaford Supermarkets, Scarborough, Maine, is highlighting previously frozen at sea haddock fillets for USD 4.99 per pound and Nature’s Place 41/50-count cooked shrimp for USD 6.99 a pound, among other seafood for the week ending February 20.
Meanwhile, Kroger, Cincinnati, Ohio, which operates nearly 2,700 stores under a variety of banners, has introduced a fish sandwich in its delis for Lent. Made with Alaskan Pollock, the hot sandwiches retail for USD 1.95 each.
