Fortune International acquires North Bay Seafood

Bensenville, Illinois, U.S.A.-based Fortune International has acquired D’Iberville, Mississippi, U.S.A.-based North Bay Seafood.

The acquisition will add to Fortune's existing operations in U.S. states bordering the Gulf of Mexico and will increase its presence “with large retail customers” in the region. Fortune added that the terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Fortune International purchased Houston, Texas, U.S.A.-based Ocean Harvest in late December 2021 and Union, New Jersey, U.S.A.-based D’Artagnan Inc. in March 2022.

“We have worked with North Bay Seafood for many years locally and we are excited to welcome them to our growing Fortune family,” Fortune International President and CEO Sean O’Scannlain said. “The addition of North Bay will allow us to further expand our footprint in the Gulf [of Mexico], as well as reach new customers in new markets. We continue to expand Fortune’s geographic footprint across the U.S., and we’re excited about the pipeline of founder-led companies that wish to partner with us to gain both enhanced distribution efficiency and expanded growth opportunities for their employees and customers.”

North Bay Seafood distributes fresh oysters and frozen seafood products in the region, and has been owned and operated since 1986 by its founder, Carl Dreiling, and his son, Danny Dreiling. Fortune said Danny Dreiling will continue in a role with Fortune as its director of new business development.

The company added the acquisition will increase its services in Mississippi and parts of the U.S. state of Arkansas.

“Fortune will grow to approximately 40 employees in the region, with the majority continuing to work from its main facility in Mobile, Alabama,” the company said.

According to Fortune, the acquisition is its fourteenth since launching the company’s acquisition strategy in 2012. In addition to the acquisitions of D’Artagnan and Ocean Harvest, the company acquired Green Bay, Wisconsin-based Meat Processors Inc. in September 2021, just weeks after it announced the acquisition of Theodore, Alabama, U.S.A.-based CCT Logistics Inc. – a 68,000-square-foot cold storage facility. Earlier acquisitions include JDY Gourmet, Coastal Seafoods, and Morey’s Seafood International’s St. Louis and Kansas City operations.