Ocean Beauty Seafoods
In terms of product development, Ocean Beauty Seafoods Vice President of Retail Sales Ron Christianson told SeafoodSource the COVID-19 pandemic has been a bit of a double-edged sword.
“The pandemic has been good and bad for product development,” Christianson said. “Not being able to travel and see firsthand what is happening in the market and to visit customers and see their stores has limited valuable input into our innovation process. However, it also has allowed us more time to work on new ideas and develop items that require longer lead times. Our team has adapted quite well, and we are looking ahead to some exciting new developments.”
In 2020 and 2021, Christianson said Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Ocean Beauty has seen consumers flocking to products that offer “a more elevated experience for in-home dining,” such as the firm’s Ocean Beauty Cedar-Wrapped Salmon, which has experienced retail success in the U.S. West and Midwest.
“There aren’t many products like it on the market,” Christianson said. “We take wild salmon and season it and wrap it in real cedar, so the finished product takes on a delicious smoky taste. The technique makes for a special meal, and it adds the variety and convenience that consumers are looking for after a year-and-a-half of cooking three meals a day.”
Additionally, Christianson said consumers have been really responding to the Captain Findus line of frozen products that Ocean Beauty has been distributing across North America. The range, which features European-style breaded and value-added seafood, steamable flavored cod loins, and frozen portions, has come to the U.S. courtesy of a partnership between Ocean Beauty and Findus.
In 2020, Ocean Beauty debuted Captain Findus Battered Cod and Pollock, made from wild Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified cod and pollock, with a crunchy English-style breading and batter, and Captain Findus Fish Sticks, made from MSC-certified premium, once-frozen pollock with Captain Findus’s signature breading in traditional and gluten-free varieties.
“Ocean Beauty hasn’t been in the breaded seafood category, so the Captain Findus products will enhance our offerings to retailers and foodservice operators,” Christianson said of the products in February 2020. “We believe that the success of the products will be based on their quality. They use premium ingredients: once-frozen, whole-muscle, MSC-certified seafood with a high percentage of fish to breading.”
More recently, Echo Falls Alaska Sockeye Salmon Tapas Slices and Hot Smoked Alaskan Sablefish have also proven attractive Ocean Beauty innovations to showcase on cheese and charcuterie boards, Christianson said, as the dining format picks back up as pandemic pressures ease.
For 2022, Christianson said major changes are on the way for one of Ocean Beauty’s product segements. Find out which one in this SeafoodSource Q&A.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Beauty
