GAPP forms new European Partnership Program to promote Alaska pollock overseas

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) is seeking proposals for its first European Partnership Program, which are due on 15 March, according to a GAPP press release.

The European Partnership Program is an expansion of GAPP’s established North American Partnership Program. GAPP began soliciting proposals to drum up demand for Alaskan pollock in Europe after last year’s Groundfish Forum.

“This Partnership Program, which was the vision of the GAPP Board of Directors, is arguably the most important and effective initiative that GAPP has undertaken to date,” GAPP Chief Executive Officer Craig Morris said in a press release. “We know there’s companies out there who want to use wild Alaska pollock and bring our amazing fish to new consumers in Europe. We want to partner with you to do just that and blow the European market wide open for wild Alaska pollock!”

The European program will function similarly to the one in North American, with partners bringing equal or greater funds that GAPP provides to the table. GAPP welcomes proposals from any organization in any country, and any pollock format – from fillets, surimi, and roe to fishmeal and oil – will be considered.

“We’re looking for companies with a passion for wild Alaska pollock who need resources to put our amazing protein, in new formats and new channels, in front of our customers. GAPP is here to help companies seize on the incredible potential to build demand and awareness for wild Alaska pollock in Europe, in all its amazing forms,” said Morris.

GAPP is an Alaskan nonprofit formed in 2003 to promote the marketing of once-frozen pollock products, harvested and processed in the state. GAPP’s focus is on major whitefish markets around the world such as Europe, North America, and Japan.

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