Since Ocean Beauty partnered with Findus a year ago, its business has rapidly expanded in the United States.
The Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based seafood company has found success distributing a variety of Findus products, including breaded and value-added seafood, steamable flavored cod loins, and frozen portions.
Ocean Beauty began showing Findus’s fish-based range at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America in 2019. Soon after, it expanded its sales team on the U.S. West Coast, along with other areas of the country.
At this year's expo, which is scheduled to take place from 15 to 17 March in Boston, Massachusetts, Ocean Beauty will debut new Findus products – along with its own new smoked salmon products.
One product that will make its debut at Seafood Expo North America 2020 is Captain Findus Fish Sticks, which are made from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified premium, once-frozen pollock with Captain Findus’s signature breading. The fish sticks are sold in traditional and gluten-free varieties.
Ocean Beauty is also debuting Captain Findus Battered Cod and Pollock, which are made from wild MSC-certified cod and pollock, with a crunchy English-style breading and batter, Ocean Beauty said in a press release. Both products are available in retail and foodservice packs, and contain no additives or preservatives.
“Ocean Beauty hasn’t been in the breaded seafood category, so the Captain Findus products will enhance our offerings to retailers and foodservice operators,” Ocean Beauty Vice President of Domestic Sales and Marketing Ron Christianson told SeafoodSource. “We believe that the success of the products will be based on their quality. They use premium ingredients: once-frozen, whole-muscle, MSC-certified seafood with a high percentage of fish to breading.”
Ocean Beauty is also launching two new smoked salmon products: Echo Falls Alaska Sockeye Salmon Tapas Slices and Ocean Beauty Cedar Wrapped Wild Alaska Salmon.
The Echo Falls Alaska Sockeye Salmon Tapas Slices are designed to be added to a charcuterie platter or cheese board. The whole-muscle sockeye is “perfectly sliced round to inspire creativity with every appetizer,” Ocean Beauty said.
“This product is a new idea and different from others that are on the market. First ... it is the only option made with wild sockeye salmon, so it has that beautiful bright red color that will really stand out on a charcuterie board,” Christianson said. “Also, the slices are small, portion-controlled, and shaped to fit a cracker, so they are sized like other traditional charcuterie options.”
The salmon slices, which have a light applewood smoke, are sold in two flavors: Original and Italian Herb. They are packaged in a four-ounce pack for retail and 12-ounce, two-flavor packs for foodservice and club stores.
“The small slice has another advantage in a lower cost per appetizer for club and foodservice applications, and all slices can be used and look great,” Christianson said.
The Cedar Wrapped Wild Alaska Salmon also differs from other products on the market, since the salmon is wrapped in a thin sheet of cedar paper to add a touch of smoke when cooked.
While there are “plenty” of salmon portions on cedar planks in the marketplace, “our new cedar-wrapped salmon imparts the flavor of the cedar and keeps the salmon moist while cooking. It also makes for a great plate presentation,” Christianson said.
Flavors of the cedar wrapped salmon include: Maple Dijon, Citrus Dill, and Smoky Grill.
While the new products have appeal to several different demographic groups, “they do hit on some key notes for millennials,” Christianson said.
“Millennials are into creative dining and healthy options and these products are high quality and healthy within their categories. They also fit special dietary needs like keto and gluten-free, and have minimal ingredients,” Christianson said. “They are also easy to prepare and serve, and everyone wants convenience.”
Ocean Beauty “excels at product development that combines high quality seafood with authentic preparation methods and innovative new ideas that will delight consumers,” Christianson said in the press release. “At this year’s expo, our customers will be impressed by the variety of our lineup and dazzled by the bold flavors we’ve built into every product we offer.”
Ocean Beauty is exhibiting at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America next month at Booth #1205.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Beauty
