CATEGORY LEADERSHIP AWARDS FROZEN SEAFOOD

Thefrozen seafood category is persistently growing, and today’s consumers are scrupulous about their purchasing decisions. When it comes to frozen seafood, this demographic of shoppers wants to know where their seafood was sourced, how nutrient dense it is, all the way down to how environmentally-friendly frozen seafood suppliers’ business practices are. Overall, the frozen seafood category provides households with a meal solution that is flavorful and a healthier alternative to smoked and fried meats without the added stress of consuming seafood before it turns.

Category leaders like Trident Seafoods have a deep understanding of consumers’ priorities and values and reflect that in their products and educational initiatives. “We believe the frozen seafood category is ready to evolve based on trends that are rooted in broader consumer behavior,” said Melody Conner, SVP Domestic Sales and Marketing. “Consumers want more information about what they are eating; source, quality, nutrition and environmental impact are all aspects people want to know about. Frozen seafood has an opportunity to share its inherent characteristics on these topics. At Trident, we aim to understand what that end consumer cares about and then do our part to help educate and share awareness of how frozen seafood can fit consumers’ needs.”

“Trident is committed to wild Alaska seafood,” Conner added. “We already know our wild-caught fish is one of the healthiest, high-quality, low-carbon footprint proteins. Our mission statement is clear: we work together to responsibly share wild Alaska seafood with the world.”

A leading processor and marketer of value-added frozen seafood, High Liner Foods has a solid footprint throughout North America. Its retail-branded products are available at grocery and club retailers under the High Liner, Fisher Boy, Mirabel, Sea Cuisine and Catch of the Day labels. What helps High Liner lead the category are the traits which set the company apart. "We are dedicated to reimagining seafood to nourish life while simplifying the process of selecting, preparing and enjoying fish and seafood, for our clients, our consumers and everyone we do business with, everyone we partner with and at every point our business touches," according to the company. "We are recognized as a global leader in driving best practice improvements in wild fisheries and aquaculture. We have strong relationships with every major supermarket chain, club store and foodservice distributor in Canada and the US And, of course, flavor. Our innovative, award-winning seafood is at the forefront of the latest culinary trends and is simple to prepare and enjoy."

At Trident Seafoods, working "responsibly" means the company is deeply committed to taking an environmental, social and governance approach and ensures sustainable fishing for generations to come, Conner said. “We are leaders in utilization and recovery —ensuring that almost nothing goes to waste,” she said. “Our vertical integration model means that we have direct access to supply, and we understand our full supply chain. We’re also committed to our employees and the communities in which we operate.”

On the innovation side, “We use that data to constantly invest in new products and technologies. We aim to understand and meet the changing needs of consumers,” she explained. “We take a broad view of innovation. Innovation in our fishing and manufacturing operations, innovation in the products we offer and innovation in how we engage with all our stakeholders, including end consumers. With our years of knowledge in the seafood industry, we constantly evaluate trends and take a stand on the topics we feel are important. Then we invest the time and resources to track our progress.”

Trident’s approach to leadership calls for leading by example and doing the right thing. “As the largest vertically integrated American seafood company and family-owned and operated since 1973, seafood and fishing are not a business, it’s our way of life,” Conner said. “We strive for sustainable fishing and operating practices that are good for people and good for the planet. Wild Alaska seafood is an incredibly nourishing source of protein, and we’ll continue to champion its consumption from fleet to fork."