Bensenville, Illinois, U.S.A.-based seafood, specialty meat, and gourmet foods distributor Fortune International has acquired another seafood company, adding Boston-based Steve Connolly Seafood Company to its expanding holdings.
"Steve Connolly Seafood Company has built a strong reputation through years of dedication to its customers and commitment to quality," Fortune International CEO and Founder Sean O’Scannlain said in a release. "We are honored to be entrusted with these relationships and look forward to delivering the same personalized service while expanding access to our broader portfolio."
According to Fortune International, the acquisition strengthens its presence in New England, and existing customers of the Steve Connolly Seafood Company will benefit from Fortune’s sourcing, logistics, and product assortment. Steve Connolly Seafood Company customers were transferred to Boston Sword and Tuna, which Fortune International acquired back in 2023, starting 31 August, the company noted in a release.
"We wanted to make certain our customers would be in capable hands," Steve Connolly Seafood Company COO David Coombs said in a release. "Fortune Fish & Gourmet shares our values, commitment to quality, and customer-first approach. I'm excited to continue serving our customers as part of the Fortune team, helping ensure a seamless transition while creating new opportunities and added value for the businesses we've supported over the years."
Fortune International has aggressively acquired seafood companies over the last 15 years, although last August, Fortune CEO Sean O’Scannlain told SeafoodSource the company was waiting to see how the U.S. tariff situation developed before completing planned transactions.
“It’s hard to operate in this climate. In our world, where we do a lot of importing, it’s been very choppy with all this uncertainty. It has been sort of a rollercoaster,” O’Scannlain said. “There is a lot of pent up demand for acquisitions – both from buyers and sellers who are waiting due to the uncertainty and the interest rates.”
Since then, Fortune International has acquired Durham, North Carolina, U.S.A.-based seafood distributor Simply Fresh and the Houston and New Orleans operating divisions of Inland Fresh Seafood Corporation, known as Inland Food.
