Nova Scotia Companies Fishing for Opportunities at the Seafood Expo North America

HALIFAX, March 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Nova Scotia seafood companies are ready to take part in the largest seafood trade event in North America in Boston, MA on March 15-17, 2015.

The Seafood Expo North America (SENA) event attracts over 20,000 buyers and suppliers of fresh, frozen, packaged and value-added seafood products, equipment, and services. The international expo includes attendees from over 100 countries. No other event in North America provides seafood producers and manufacturers with direct access to buyers and suppliers.

"The Seafood Expo North America in Boston is a key trade development event which provides opportunities for our seafood companies to showcase Nova Scotia's quality products internationally," said Laurel Broten, President and CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc., the province's business development agency. "It's an important platform to help our companies grow existing business, expand distribution into new markets and identify new export opportunities."

Some of this year's exhibitors at the Nova Scotia pavilion include:

St. Mary's River Smokehouses – their new product, Candied Atlantic Salmon will be a contender in the New Product competition which qualifies them for The Seafood Excellence Awards. "We are thrilled to be competing for such prestigious awards; recognizing the best new retail product and foodservice product in North America," said Dan Turner, Director of Marketing St. Mary's River Smokehouses. Currently a seasoned exporter to the USA, the extra spotlight will certainly help in their pursuit of entering new international markets.

Sea Star Seafoods Ltd. – is the largest processor and exporter of salted fish in Nova Scotia and has a range of over 200 products. "Popular in the Portuguese, Italian, West Indie and Caribbean communities throughout North America, our goal for SENA is to connect face-to-face with existing customers and to build new relationships with suppliers," said Kerry Cunningham, Sea Star Seafoods Ltd.

Clearwater Seafoods – continues to innovate by expanding its value-added portfolio and announcing this week the launch of four new scallop and shrimp products, "Our R&D and culinary teams continue to work with high quality, sustainably-sourced and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified seafood to deliver our newest formats and flavor profiles, "said Jeff Duffin, Global VP of Marketing Clearwater Seafoods. The new products are available to foodservice operators and grocery retailers across North America and will be showcased for the first time at SENA.

Fisher King Seafoods Ltd. – will use the event to promote its line of products such as lobster, crab and scallops produced from sustainable resources to its quickly growing business throughout North America and other key markets in Asia and Europe. "We utilize this event to both maintain our presence in the frozen seafood market and explore new opportunities and connections. The show provides the opportunity to learn from those participating in the primary resource industry and our end user customers about trends and directions related to all frozen seafood items. Specifically, we look to connect with buyers representing food service, restaurant, casino chains and retail grocery and supermarket chains," said John Andrews, Export Manager Fisher King Seafoods Ltd.

Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd. – is looking forward to connecting with existing customers as well as seeking out new clients. "We will be showcasing our fine lines of high quality, superior tasting seafood products, which of course are MSC and BRC certified. Also on display is our Superior Taste Award by The International Taste and Quality Institute (iTQi) for our Mira Bay snow crab and coldwater shrimp," said Lori Kennedy, Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd.

Nova Scotia Seafood Sector Quick Facts:

• Nova Scotia is home to more than 3,000 fishing operations
• 360 food-manufacturing establishments (including 305 in seafood processing
• Shellfish currently dominates landed values in Nova Scotia with lobster (49%), snow crab (9%), scallop (19%), shrimp (8%) representing 85% of landed values in 2013
• Seafood processing is a dominant sector, accounting for 42% of food manufacturing and 8% of total manufacturing revenues
• The value of seafood manufacturing shipments was projected to be $767 million in 2012
• Nova Scotia was Canada's largest exporter of fish and seafood value in 2014 ($1.25 billion)
• In 2014, Nova Scotia exported 43% of the value of Canadian Lobster

To learn more about the companies exhibiting at the Nova Scotia pavilion at SENA, visit their websites:

• Bluenose Seafood Inc. (www.bluenoseseafood.com)
• Clearwater Seafoods (www.clearwater.ca)
• Fisher King Seafoods (www.fisherkingseafoods.com)
• Louisbourg Seafoods Limited (www.louisbourgseafoods.ca)
• Sea Star Seafoods Ltd. (www.seastarseafoods.com)
• St. Mary's River Smokehouses (www.thebestsmokedsalmon.com)

For more information on opportunities in Nova Scotia's Seafood Sector, please visit www.novascotiabusiness.com/seafood

SOURCE Nova Scotia Business Inc.

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