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 QFFI's Global Seafood Magazine - July 2009  |
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European Seafood Exposition Busy Enough
A funny thing happened on way to the world’s premier fishery products forum in Brussels this year – hotel rates in the usually high-priced city were falling and spare room capacity was reported following cancellations. But, recession or not, the seafood show must go on! Economic recession notwithstanding, most of the major players within the international seafood industry surfaced as expected in Brussels April 28-30 to attend the 17th running of the European Seafood Exposition (ESE) and the 11th edition of the concurrently held Seafood Processing Europe (SPE) fair. While the visitor count was off from the previous year (down by 1,369, as 22,514 persons from 145 countries attended in comparison with 23,883 from over 150 countries in 2008), the world’s largest event of its kind was generally regarded as successful among those interviewed on the show floor by Quick Frozen Foods International (QFFI) editors and reporters. The organizer, Diversified Business Communications, reported after the event that over 1,550 exhibitors occupied more than 33,000 square meters of space at the Brussels Parc des Expositions. However, in the 2009 Program of Events distributed to showgoers the count was put at “more than 1,600 exhibitors from more than 75 countries.” It was noticed by QFFI that a number of companies exhibiting in 2008 opted out this year. Among them was Mitsubishi Corporation, which was one of five targets of a Greenpeace protest at the show in 2008, when members the environmental group chained themselves to the company’s stand in a demonstration to draw attention to what they called “overfishing of global fishing stocks.” Another company whose stand was briefly overrun by Greenpeace activists last year, Cartegena, Spain-based Ricardo Fuentes E. Hijos, was back on the scene again this year in full force.
As for Greenpeace, its lower key activity centered around the distribution of handbills opposing “Pirate Fishing” at the entrance to the fairgrounds. Elsewhere in Brussels, at the European Tuna Conference on April 29, it called on restaurateurs, retailers and distributors to trade only in skipjack tuna which has been “sustainably, equitably and consciously” harvested by pole and line fishing techniques. If traffic on the floor at ESE was down a bit in 2009, the buying power of those making rounds was as great as ever. “The quality of professionals in attendance is good. People are sitting down and doing business, which is positive,” said Martin Brugman, managing director of Rotterdam, Holland-headquartered Culimer B.V. Another exhibitor, a major importer and processor of Asian-sourced farm-raised shrimp and other frozen fishery products, while agreeing that there was no shortage of buyers walking the halls, said the problem was that the “depressing” global economic environment had dialed down their inclination to buy. “Demand for shrimp is decreasing in major markets, as consumers reach for less expensive proteins to eat,” he told Quick Frozen Foods International. “Frankly, if I had not already invested a lot of money to exhibit before the recession’s bite deepened, I would not be here today.” Still, most attendees were making the best of a bad economic situation beyond their control, taking the opportunity to present innovations and meet with new contacts as well as current business associates and old friends. “You would expect with an economic crisis that new product development would not occur. However, new products are actually gaining more attention from buyers,” stated Mary Larkin, vice president of Seafood Expositions for Diversified Business Communications. A post-exhibition press release, issued by the organizer on June 10, declared: “During the three days of the event, a considerable amount of optimism filled the halls of the Brussels Expo. And there is indeed reason to be optimistic. Fish is increasingly considered to be an indispensable part of a healthy diet. The health benefits derived from consuming fish and seafood stem from the abundance of proteins and minerals that they offer. And raising public awareness of such facts will undoubtedly lead to an increase in fish consumption.” Right on cue with a “tasty yet healthy quality product” was Royal Greenland. The Aalborg, Denmark-headquartered company, which ranks as the world’s largest supplier of coldwater shrimp, has reduced the level of salt used when freezing its wild-caught Greenlandic prawns.
“This means that for every 13,000 tons of prawns produced, assuming a reduction in salt level of 0.3%, there would be a total reduction of 3,900 kilos of salt. That is equivalent to two full truckloads,” said a Royal Greenland spokesman. The company won a special Prix d’Elite Award for Convenience Products during the ESE for its Fish ’n’ Rösti entry (see story above for more details). The single-serving meal features Marine Stewardship Council-certified Alaska pollock topped with creamy mustard sauce, Madagascar pepper and a slice of potato rösti. “Despite the recession, there were 97 entries for the Seafood Prix d’Elite competition in 2009 – the same figure as the previous year,” said Ms. Larkin. “Innovation really does set a company apart from the competition.” Oh, Atlantic Canada! As always, the Atlantic Canada contingent was in fine form at the show. Its robust roster of companies from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Price Edward Island (PEI), Newfoundland and Labrador served up a smorgasbord of healthy-eating seafood products. The feast began at the Atlantic Canada Seafood Showcase reception, which is traditionally held at Hotel Le Meridien the night before the ESE grand opening. Frozen shellfish-based dishes dominated the tasty menu, which featured Lobster Sliders, Shrimp Crostinis, Sweet Corn and Lobster Chowder, Lobster “Deviled Eggs,” Shrimp Rolls, Lobster Rissotto Croquettes with Tomato Butter, and more. Among companies flying Atlantic Canada flags at the fairgrounds Patio between Halls 8 and 9 were Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership and United Trans Ltd of Nova Scotia; Barry Group Inc. and Ocean Choice International L.P. of New Brunswick; and Mariner Seafood Inc. of PEI.
Also making their presence known were members of Saulnierville, Nova Scotia-based Scotia Direct Lobster Co-op Ltd., an independent group of boat owners and operators who work the Atlantic lobster fishery off the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia from the last Monday of November through May 31. That’s when bottom water temperatures are coldest at between 0 and 9°C, and the premium lobsters are harvested in a semi-dormant state. “Expenses are rising, but fishermen are getting less for their catches, while market prices stay the same or rise even higher. So we are looking to eliminate the middleman and sell directly to retailers and foodservice operators, thus providing a quality product to the end market at a reasonable price,” said Joël N. Comeau, the Co-op’s president (Phone: +1 902-769-0129). The lobstermen, who in the wintertime often work 15-hour days in sub-zero conditions, figure it’s high time to get better organized and develop their own markets. “Why not set a fixed price for the season so fishermen and buyers know where they stand?” asked Comeau. “A reasonable price would probably mean a lower cost to the wholesaler and retailer. Furthermore, consistency would make for more accurate forecasting.” High Tide of Thai, Indian Exhibitors Thailand’s sumptuous “Kitchen of the World” cuisine and friendly hospitality was abundant in Hall 7, where the Thai Frozen Foods Association anchored a flotilla of seafood and fishery product producers. I.T. Foods Industries of Muang, Samutsakorn, was among them. “We are offering frozen, ready-to-eat traditional Thai tastes under our Big Chef brand,” said Thidawan Anantasan, assistant marketing manager. “Dishes range from Thai Green Fish Curry and Stir-fried Thai Noodle with Shrimp to Tom Yum Koong, which is a spicy soup featuring a blend of traditional herbs.” One of the many exhibitors on hand was Aqua Sea Food (India) Pvt. Ltd. The AKM Group member packs a wide variety of frozen tuna, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, shrimp and other items including seafood mixes. “Our stand has been very active, and we are quite pleased with the contacts that are being made,” said Abdul Ziyad, managing director of the Cochin, Kerala-based firm. – Reported by John M. Saulnier |
