Ocean Beauty sells Alaska processing plant

Ocean Beauty Seafoods has accepted an offer on a closed seafood processing plant in Petersburg, Alaska, but the company has not yet identified the buyer, according to KFSK, a local radio station.

The former cannery and processing plant had been on the market for more than a year at USD 3.39 million (EUR 3.05 million), but sold after being reduced to USD 2.495 million (EUR 2.25 million).

Ocean Beauty Chief Financial Officer Tony Ross confirmed that the offer had been accepted, however, he would not identify the buyer or when the deal was expected to be completed. A number of seafood and cruise companies in the area have confirmed that they are not involved in the transaction.

The plant site is located on the Petersburg downtown waterfront area and has been a home to seafood companies for most of the 20th century. It was bought by Chatham Straits Seafoods, a subsidiary of Ocean Beauty, in the 1980s.

A nearby dormitory used by employees is still on the market for USD 1.295 million (EUR 1.17 million).

2016 was the last time the plant was used, after which operations moved to Ocean Beauty’s plant at Excursion Inlet, located west of Juneau, where the company is focusing on fresh and frozen salmon processing. When the plant was in use, Ocean Beauty employed 200 seasonal workers.

Ocean Beauty is a seafood processor and distributor based in Seattle, Washington, with both domestic and international locations.  

Photo courtesy of Florence-Joseph McGinn/Shutterstock