Alaskan Salmon has launched a new direct-to-consumer online business that offers a VIP waitlist for Americans who want to be the first to have Copper River king and sockeye salmon delivered directly to their homes.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cordova, Alaska-based Alaskan Salmon supplied Copper River salmon solely to foodservice buyers.
“Business had been going very well, but then we lost a ton of our restaurant business,” Founder Kyle Lee told SeafoodSource. “Then, we saw a huge spike in consumer demand and, at the time, we weren’t set up [to handle] the consumer demand and our season was so short.”
Over the winter, Alaskan Salmon developed its direct-to-consumer website and began taking pre-orders for the premium salmon this spring. The company boasts 4,000 consumers on a waitlist to purchase a five-pound Copper River king salmon box averaging 13 to 15 fillets at USD 75.00 (EUR 62.50) per pound; and sockeye salmon at USD 50.00 (EUR 42.00), per pound with a maximum order of two boxes. Alaskan Salmon flash-freezes the salmon for 48 hours or more at -30 degrees to make it sushi-grade and delivers its products frozen via FedEx and UPS.
“We think it is huge,” Lee said. “This is going to be a big part of our business.
The company is making a final marketing push on its direct-to-consumer sales before the Copper River salmon season opens, a date tentatively scheduled for 15 May.
“We are proud to create newfound access to consumers that provides the highest-quality Copper River salmon, supports fishermen, and lets the public cook a premium salmon at home. There’s a huge gap in the market to be able to supply seafood directly and educate consumers on how they can sustainably support the industry and, in return, put incredible, wild-caught salmon on the dinner table.”
Lee said he expects Copper River salmon prices to be high again this season, similar to last year, due to a projected low run of the fish, with a projected allowable commercial harvest 672,000 sockeye and only 13,000 kings.
While Copper River salmon may be pricey for some, Alaskan Salmon’s website provides education on the fishery and Alaska seafood as a whole, so “people can make the best decisions for their families,” Lee said.
Photo courtesy of Alaskan Salmon
