Wegmans Stores Spotlight Gulf Coast Seafood

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition (www.eatgulfseafood.com) and Wegmans grocery stores are celebrating the end of summer by featuring  fresh Gulf seafood from Aug. 24 to Sept. 6, providing delicious and quick menu ideas for late-summer barbecue bashes and back-to-school meals. Additionally, Wegmans will launch its new proprietary brand of wild-caught Gulf of Mexico peeled and deveined shrimp that will offer shoppers the delicious flavors of the Gulf of Mexico year-round.

On Friday, Aug. 29,  the Rochester, NY-based grocery store chain will also feature Gulf Coast seafood cooking demonstrations, freshly-prepared wild-caught Gulf shrimp dish samples and educational grilling techniques.

Each of the 84 Wegmans stores will showcase flavorful and easy-to-prepare Gulf seafood harvested from Gulf of Mexico waters, including wild-caught shrimp, snapper, grouper and blue crab. The nutrient-rich Gulf waters provide an ideal environment to yield high-quality seafood that is rich in essential nutrients, such as vitamins B6 and B12, and an important protein source in a healthy diet.

"Wegmans is dedicated to providing the freshest ingredients to our customers, helping to make great meals easy and affordable. The savory Gulf of Mexico seafood flavors fit into this plan, and the Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition is a great partner to us," said Dave Wagner, Vice President of Seafood Merchandising. "We are confident that once customers taste our new Wegmans brand wild-caught Gulf of Mexico shrimp and learn easy preparation techniques, it will soon become a favorite."

The Gulf Coast region produces 69 percent of domestic shrimp and is a leading producer of domestic hard and soft-shell blue crabs. Both types of shellfish will accompany delectable snapper and grouper fish selections to showcase the variety of species and flavors available from the Gulf Coast seafood industry, which is a major economic engine for the region and country.

"Partnering with the highly-respected and popular Wegmans chain will help the Coalition share delicious flavors of the Gulf with our New England fans," said Joanne Zaritsky, Marketing Director for the Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition. "We are pleased to provide premium Gulf Coast seafood products to Wegmans customers while introducing a new, mouthwatering Gulf shrimp brand that will make meal preparation for consumers both enjoyable and delicious."

In addition to learning shrimp preparation techniques, Wegmans shoppers at all locations will notice informative Gulf seafood counter cards and window static clings throughout the store.

For delicious and easy-to-prepare Gulf seafood recipes or for more information, please visit www.EatGulfSeafood.com or follow the Coalition on Facebook at Gulf Coast Seafood and Twitter at @eatgulfseafood. 

About Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition

The Coalition provides a framework for the seafood community to coordinate marketing efforts among the Gulf States with emphasis on working with tourism boards, restaurants, retailers and chefs.  The Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Inc. is coordinating the Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition through funding provided by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission's (NOAA Award #NA10NMF4770481).  For more information, please visit www.eatgulfseafood.com and follow the Coalition on Facebook at Gulf Coast Seafood and Twitter at @eatgulfseafood. 

About Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Inc.

The Foundation is a private, regional nonprofit research organization with a general membership and Board of Trustees representing a wide spectrum of the commercial fishing industry throughout the southeast U.S. Through the Foundation, the commercial seafood and fishing industry can collectively identify industry needs, and address those needs through appropriate research and other activities.  Representing the nine-state region from Virginia to Texas, the Foundation has sponsored more than 600 fisheries related research projects.  For more information, please visit www.gulfsouthfoundation.org.

For more information:
Joanne Zaritsky
Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Inc.
[email protected]
850-224-1129
813-286-8390

Judy Jamison, Executive Director
Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Inc.
[email protected]
813-286-8390

SOURCE Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition