Seatrade International Co. of Topsfield, Mass., USA, will acquire a 66,000-square-foot scallop processing facility currently operated by Mar-Lees Seafood in New Bedford, Mass.
The facility, which is expected to increase capacity and improve efficiencies for the company and potentially double its scallop production, will maintain the current employment base processing scallops and value-added seafood. Seatrade plans to relocate its fresh scallop processing operations from its South Street in New Bedford to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-certified facility. Seatrade also plans to process and co-pack scallops and other seafood products for Mar-Lees.
Seatrade is a subsidiary of American Holdco Inc. (AHI), the parent company for East Coast Seafood in Lynn, Mass.; Maine Fair Trade Lobster in Gouldsboro, Maine; and Paturel International Company, which operates live lobster and lobster processing facilities in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada.
“This new BRC-certified seafood processing facility will increase our growth potential throughout our company’s operational network and is positive for all stakeholders in the supply chain — fishermen, employees and buyers of seafood,” said Michael Tourkistas, president and CEO of AHI. “We are proud to provide a sustainable business model for all of our employees as well as our valued customers and suppliers.”
Further, AHI plans to process lobster products at the facility. With the addition of lobster processing the employment base could increase to as many as 200 employees. Seatrade’s growing finfish operation, which is focused on exports of underutilized fish species, will remain at its South Street location. Both New Bedford facilities will undergo some renovation as the company prepares to expand current processing capabilities.
AHI companies sell live lobster, lobster products (fresh and frozen), scallops (fresh and frozen) and finfish throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. It also operates Canadian Gold Seafood Co., which sells live lobster and lobster products with offices in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Brussels, Belgium; and Worldwide Perishables Enterprises, a perishables freight forwarding company located in Chelsea, Mass., and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Gregg Perry, spokesperson for Mar-Lees, did not confirm the sale but added: “Mar-Lees Seafood, like many companies, is frequently presented with business opportunities. There are negotiations pending for use of the facility, however, we are not prepared to announce any agreements at this time.”
