Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.-based smoked salmon supplier Acme Smoked Fish is opening a facility in the U.S. state of Florida, which it originally bought in 2022, to effectively address increased demand across the Southeast U.S. – and is also unveiling new products, packaging, and an innovative climate initiative to start out 2024.
The 43,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Pompano Beach, Florida, will significantly enhance the company’s cold smoked salmon production, Acme Co-Owner Adam Caslow told SeafoodSource.
“My family, colleagues, and I are focused on opening up the facility this year and being in a position to add 4 million pounds of cold smoked salmon to our manufacturing capabilities starting this year,” Caslow said.
Acme has already invested USD 20 million (EUR 18 million) in equipment and technology to upgrade a Florida facility that it has owned since 2005, Caslow said, but the new plant will operate as both a manufacturing and distribution center to service the region, where the company provides fresh products to delis, bagel stores, restaurants, supermarkets, and cruise ships.
Acme now operates six manufacturing facilities in total.
Despite a “difficult” 2023 throughout the industry, Caslow said the company continues to see increased demand for smoked salmon across the U.S.
“Luckily for Acme, revenue was up [in 2023], but our volumes decreased similar to industry-wide volumes – down 6 to 7 percent,” he said. “This was largely due to necessary price increases due to the rising cost of goods.”
The industry contracted because the price gap between seafood and other proteins grew too large, Caslow explained.
“As inflation raged on, consumers tightened and seafood became a luxury, not a staple,” he said.
Acme is looking to change that perception and aims to spur smoked salmon sales by enticing new shoppers to the category through new formats and flavors that align with overall consumer trends.
In December 2023, the company rolled out “Lox in a Box” snack kits and other new products that cater to consumers’ desire to enjoy high-quality products on the go “so it can be enjoyed anywhere from the picnic table to the conference room,” Acme stated in a press release.
This year, Acme is launching three flavors of hot smoked salmon: lemon garlic, Kansas City BBQ, and honey maple.
The cooked, smoked salmon fillets are packaged in 3-ounce single-serve portions so consumers can easily add the product to tossed salads, grains, or pasta. The new line features wild-caught, Marine Stewardship Council-certified sockeye salmon from Bristol Bay, Alaska.
“We know customers are looking for ready-to-eat convenient eats, and our new flavored hot smoked salmon is a perfect way to experiment with flavors and have some fun,” Caslow said, noting that the company tested many flavor varieties through consumer research.
Along with introducing new flavors, Acme is also rolling out redesigned product packaging for several smoked salmon and whitefish salad products, which aims to bring a “joyful and modern experience to consumers,” Acme said in a press release.
The refresh pays homage to four generations of smoked fish history while adding a level of approachability and education that inspires its customers, Acme said. The brand’s new deep blue hue “evokes the ocean,” while vivid illustrations and photography connect consumers with their product.
“Acme has evolved over time, and our packaging is catching up. My family has been in the smoked fish business for four generations, and we set out to create a modern visual look that matches our mission and makes our products even more accessible,” Caslow said.
Rounding out the company’s announcements to start 2024, Acme has also introduced a climate initiative that is already underway. Acme will donate 1 percent of sales from its entire Acme cold smoked salmon product line to support climate initiatives through the Acme Smoked Fish Foundation and its Seafood Industry Climate Awards (SICA).
“We just granted USD 210,000 [EUR 193,000] in awards to three exciting women-led projects around North America. The ‘1% for Climate Initiatives’ program will not only help us continue and expand our support, but we also hope to raise awareness throughout the industry,” Caslow said.
The grantees – Minorities In Aquaculture, Pine Island Redfish, and Viable Gear – will be recognized at Seafood Expo North America in 2024, which will be held from 10 to 12 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Photo courtesy of Acme Smoked Fish
