Russian Fishery Company surimi takes step closer to commercial sale

Russian Fishery Company (RFC) has announced that KVEN, a seafood producer in Russia's Far East, has successfully trialed RFC surimi in its products, taking the RFC's surimi a step closer to mainstream sales.

RFC said that the production of surimi was possible thanks to the completion of one of its new modern supertrawler – the Vladimir Limanov – in December 2020. Since that time, KVEN has used RFC surimi to produce products like imitation crabmeat, crabsticks, and other products.

“We are pleased with the result,” KVEN JSC General Director Evgeny Morgunkov said. “And we hope that most of the surimi can finally be purchased from domestic producers.”

Previously, the company purchased its surimi from abroad, sourcing it from Japan, the U.S., Chile, Argentina, or Vietnam. According to a RFC press release, KVEN found its surimi to be “of high quality” and on par with surimi from other countries.

Cooperation with its Russian partners, such as companies like KVEN, is “an element of a sustainable development strategy,” RFC said.

“The beginning of cooperation with the Far Eastern brand, recognized and loved by millions of residents of the Far East, can be called with all confidence a promising start,” RFC First Deputy Director General Saveliy Karpukhin said. “Cooperation with leading Russian and local producers allows RFC to control and ensure high quality of the product at all stages, from catch to shelf, and create the maximum added value of fish products in the country.”

RFC recently regained its Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification after the company was ousted from the MSC client group in Russia. The company regained its membership in the client group, the Pollock Catchers Association, via court action shortly after the completion of the Vladimir Limanov.

The company is planning and executing the construction of nine more supertrawlers similar to the Vladimir Limanov. The ship is capable of catching 60,000 metric tons (MT) annually, and will be able to produce up to 15,000 MT of deep-processed products like fillets, mince, and surimi per year

The entire ST-192 class of supertrawlers is being built at a cost of RUB 65 billion (USD 874.5 million, EUR 743.2 million).  

Photo courtesy of Russian Fishery Company