Seafood Expo North America latest: Trans-Ocean, Handy update packaging, Lagoon expands to US

Two U.S. seafood suppliers are unveiling new packaging at the 2023 Seafood Expo North America, taking place 12 to 14 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A.-based Trans-Ocean Products, which will be at Booth #557 at Seafood Expo North America, is revamping packaging for its top-selling products, including Crab Classic and Simply Surimi Seafood & Snackers. The complete packaging refresh – including increased window space, updated photography and design, and key call-outs – will be introduced this summer, Trans-Ocean Vice President of Sales and Marketing Lou Shaheen told SeafoodSource.

Presenting better value to inflation-weary shoppers, sales of surimi products have remained strong throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and last year, Shaheen said.

"We see continued organic growth in 2023 like we did in 2022. Consumers like the value, ease of use and availability of surimi seafoods,” he said.

U.S. surimi sales rose 3.2 percent for the 52 weeks ending 1 January, according to IRI Worldwide, and Trans-Ocean’s sales soared 11 percent for the year, according to Shaheen.

Shaheen said larger pack-sizes have proven to be the most-popular format for surimi this year, but sales of Trans-Ocean’s individual-sized three-ounce Simply Surimi Snackers package are also strong, presenting a “great consumer value of under USD 2.00 [EUR 2.90] a unit,” according to Shaheen.

Marketing support from the Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) Partnership Program “has been strong and effective,” according to Shaheen.

“It has helped educate consumers on all of the important aspects and benefits of wild Alaska pollock,” he said.

Salisbury, Maryland, U.S.A.-based Handy Seafood, exhibiting at SENA at Booth #823, is on track for a favorable year in terms of sales growth, Director of Marketing Maureen Johnson told SeafoodSource. The growth is due to an overall decline in consumers eating out and becoming more comfortable preparing seafood at home, along with more people substituting seafood for beef, according to Johnson.

Johnson expects the supplier’s revamp of its entire frozen seafood products lineup to attract more shoppers this year. Its frozen retail products include: Nashville Hot Shrimp, Old Bay Crab Cakes, Old Bay Mini Crab Cakes, Old Bay Breaded Shrimp, Shrimp Power Bites, Thai Chili Shrimp Rolls, Gluten Free Crab Cakes, and Crab House Crab Cakes.

The “more-vibrant and -contemporary” packaging design convey the products’ flavorful, nutritious, and wholesome ingredients, Johnson said.

“The revamp will help shoppers choose us because the new packaging hits on consumers’ desire for flavorful, easy-to-prepare seafood delivered in convenient, inviting, and Environmentally-conscious packaging.”

Separately, Lachine, Quebec, Canada-based Lagoon Seafood will be expanding distribution into the U.S.,

“Our Canadian-based company is now growing well beyond our province’s borders across Canada and in the U.S., and this show is the perfect opportunity to share our recent product innovations and new technology with potential partners and customers, Lagoon Business Resource Manager Michael Cheaib said in a news release.“We are eager for Americans to discover our impressive developments in product innovation, including our ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook frozen products such as Salmon Wellington, bacon-wrapped scallops, seafood and risotto stuffings, burgers, bites, and sliders, as well as new tartare, sashimi, and fish products.”

After celebrating its 30th anniversary last year and expanding distribution into Ontario earlier this year, Lagoon is now focused on deploying efforts to increase its brand awareness throughout the U.S., including in Boston, New York, and Miami. It will be exhibiting at Booth #1149 at SENA.

“It is always ideal to launch value-added products (ready-to-cook-and-serve and ready-to-eat) in the U.S., as there is always a market for innovative products let alone the size of the U.S. market, and sales are always booming,” Lagoon Director of Marketing Tony Vartivarian told SeafoodSource.

The value-added seafood meals are “highly demanded” by both retail and foodservice buyers and are “very easy to prepare, especially for those who are running on a tight schedule,” Vartivarian said.

The value-added products are created ... 

Photo courtesy of Handy Seafood