Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based company Raw Seafoods has made a number of new hires in an effort to strengthen and enhance its leadership team after a period of sustained growth.
The company hired Jim LaBelle as its new vice president of marketing and program development. In his new position, LaBelle will be a leading force behind all marketing and branding efforts for Raw Seafoods, and he will play an integral role in developing programs and partnerships with leading retail and foodservice customer partners. LaBelle's work history includes positions in marketing and sales at High Liner Foods and Fishery Products International.
The company, a value-added shellfish and fish distributer, also hired Mark Ross as its director of retail sales. Ross previously worked in a senior sales position with Trans-Ocean Products. In his new role with Raw Seafoods, Ross will be responsible for spearheading the company’s campaigns surrounding the sale of its Seafoods brand commodities and J. Scott Foods Brand value-added seafood to major retailers throughout North America.
Tom Vasile, who worked for National Fish and Seafood and TOP Seafood in the past, has also joined the company as its director of international procurement, a role that will have him helming seafood purchasing activity for the company at the source, building direct relationships with global suppliers.
“We are excited to bring these experienced and passionate seafood leaders into the company,” said Jason Hutchens, president of Raw Seafoods. “As we continue to grow beyond our core retail and scallops businesses, building our team to enable future sales success is critical.
A family-owned business, Raw Seafoods operates out of a production facility that is USDA, FDA, USDC Grade A, MSC Chain of Custody Certified and BRC “AA” rated. The company’s portfolio includes its J. Scott Brand along with own-label products with partner customers.
"We’ve achieved rapid growth by closely partnering with our customers to give them high-quality seafood products and service, both in commodities and value-added solutions,” added Scott Hutchens, vice president of Raw Seafoods. “These additions to our organization will be focused on developing innovative new products and helping the company to expand into new market segments.”
