Fortune International finalizes acquisition of Boston Sword & Tuna

Bensenville, Illinois, U.S.A.-based seafood distributor Fortune International has officially closed on its purchase of Boston Sword & Tuna.

Fortune announced the acquisition in March 2023, after it signed an agreement to acquire the Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based company. The deal will see Boston Sword & Tuna continue to operate under its existing brand, led by CEO Michael Scola, president Larry Dore, and vice president Paul Scola, the company said. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Boston Sword & Tuna to the growing Fortune family,” Fortune International CEO Sean O’Scannlain said. “Bringing Michael and his exceptional team aboard will strengthen our presence in the Northeast as well as seafood industry, including the opportunity to be one step closer to sourcing many of our local seafood products. We look forward to building on our shared love of seafood and starting our new chapter in business together.”

Boston Sword & Tuna currently serves more than 650 customers across the retail, wholesale, and distributor markets. In 2019, Boston Sword & Tuna completed a USD 20 million (EUR 18 million) expansion of its 50,000 square-foot processing facility in South Boston, which includes 36,000 square feet of processing space, a test kitchen for product trials, and 10 loading bays. It also just completed an 8,700-square-foot expansion at its Boston plant that added additional processing capacity.

“This combination is exciting for our customers, fisheries and team members,” Michael Scola said in a statement. “Sean and his team are highly respected with a strong track record of great service and products. We are excited to join forces to create a stronger, more competitive company that will benefit more customers in more markets with an even higher level of responsiveness and service.”

The acquisition adds to Fortune’s growing list of subsidiaries and marks its first acquisition of 2023. Fortune first launched an “aggressive” acquisition strategy in 2012, and since that time the company has acquired around one new company annually. In 2022, the company acquired New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.-based Fish House in July, D’Iberville, Mississippi, U.S.A.-based North Bay Seafood in May; and Union, New Jersey, U.S.A.-based D’Artagnan Inc. in March.

The acquisition of Boston Sword & Tuna marks the company’s sixteenth acquisition since 2012.  

Photo courtesy of Boston Sword & Tuna