Slade Gorton acquiring North Atlantic Inc

Slade Gorton & Co. will absorb Portland, Maine, U.S.A-based North Atlantic, Inc. in September.

Founded in 1928, Slade Gorton is a third-generation, family-owned seafood importer, processor, and distributor based in Boston, Massachusetts.

The new entity, North Atlantic Seafood, will function as a subsidiary of Slade Gorton, and North Atlantic Owner Jerry Knecht will be continuing on at the company in an advisory role, according to Slade Gorton President and CEO Kim Gorton.

“Operating as a subsidiary of Slade Gorton, North Atlantic Seafood LLC will continue to provide its customers with seamless access to responsibly harvested, high quality seafood products and efficiently connect its global supply base with the marketplace,” Slade Gorton said in a press release. “For over 30 years, North Atlantic has been known for its development of innovative solutions to the complex process of enhancing the sustainability of fisheries and for its dedication to elevating the welfare of the fishing communities in which it operates. Its ongoing success has led to the need for a seasoned partner to help support its continual growth and deepen its impact. With Slade Gorton’s leadership role in bringing wholesome and nutritious seafood from around the world to America’s table, the combined entity will continue to proudly supply North America’s retailers, distributors, and foodservice operators with a vast array of fresh and frozen seafood products and ready-to-cook meal solutions.”

A veteran of the American seafood industry, Knecht also founded Bali, Indonesia-based P.T. Bali Seafood International in 2009, but sold the business earlier this year. With North Atlantic Inc., Knecht originally focused on importing Pacific tuna for American retailers, but his firm eventually evolved into an importer of warm-water seafood. He has been lauded for his companies’ strong emphasis on sustainability and social impact, including the opening of a fish processing plant in Indonesia focused on the production of sustainably-sourced tuna, an integrated approach toward giving back to the local community, and the creation of a worker empowerment initiative.

“Ensuring a safe and sustainable supply of delicious seafood products has been my family’s passion and our life’s work, so we are thrilled to be welcoming into the Slade Gorton family such a mission- driven and innovative company and its dedicated team of like-minded people,” Gorton said. “We look forward to the ongoing success of the North Atlantic brand and to reinforcing our joint commitment to making great seafood accessible to everyone.”