Mazzetta Co. on Tuesday announced that it acquired Atwood Lobster Co. of Spruce Head Island, Maine, one of the state’s largest lobster dealers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Highland Park, Ill.-based seafood supplier has been involved in the Maine lobster fishery since 2008. In 2010, Mazzetta purchased more than 5 million pounds of Maine lobster and processed more than 2 million pounds in the state.
“This purchase is consistent with our overall strategy to incorporate Maine lobster into the Seamazz family of premium branded seafood offerings. We view the addition of Atwood Lobster Co. as a critical step in our plans to vertically integrate our business while allowing us to keep pace with our customers’ demand for quality Maine lobster products,” said Jordan Mazzetta, the company’s executive VP. “The Atwood family has been involved with Maine lobster for nearly a century, and we intend to build on the company’s successes to make its second century even stronger.
“We approach this acquisition with a sense of stewardship. Atwood Lobster is one of the most respected businesses in the state, and we intend to maintain the values and traditions [founder Bill Atwood] has established,” added Mazzetta.
“It is the perfect match for the Atwood Lobster Co. and a huge plus for the Maine lobster industry,” added Atwood, 73, who’s worked in the industry for more than 50 years. “I have followed the Mazzetta family’s entry into the lobster fishery for the past few years, and they clearly understand and respect the value and sustainability of our prized resource.”
According the the company’s website, Atwood has the largest lobster-shipping facility in Maine, with a holding capacity of 200,000 pounds in refrigerated sea water. The company sells about 4 million pounds of lobsters each year and purchases lobsters from about 70 local fishermen and from some fishermen in Atlantic Canada.
