Trident Seafoods Divests Ketchikan Facility; Pickenpack's European Arm Returns to Russian Pollock Procurement
In a recent development, Trident Seafoods' European subsidiary, Pickenpack, has announced its return to purchasing pollock sourced from Russia. Acquired by Trident Seafoods in 2016 following its bankruptcy in 2015, Pickenpack Vertriebs is based in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., and is known as one of the leading global suppliers of Alaska pollock.
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Trident Seafoods' European subsidiary, Pickenpack, headquartered in Lüneburg, Germany, with sales offices spread across the European Union, has resumed its procurement of Russian pollock. Despite being under the Trident Seafoods umbrella since 2016, Pickenpack Seafoods remains a distinct entity led by Trident Seafoods Europe Managing Director Thomas Scherer and a German leadership team.
Trident Seafoods CEO Joe Bundrant has strongly supported the U.S. government's ban on Russian seafood, initially imposed in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and expanded in December 2023 to include Russian seafood processed in third countries. Trident's decision to withdraw from the National Fisheries Institute in January 2024 was motivated by the institute's lack of support for the ban.
Despite initially halting purchases of Russian-sourced products after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Pickenpack has resumed its procurement of Russian pollock, balancing market demands with a commitment to promoting wild Alaska seafood in Europe. A study by Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers revealed European consumers' preference for pollock sourced from Alaska, with many expressing reluctance to purchase fish from Russia or China.
Pickenpack's announcement coincides with Trident's divestment of assets in Alaska, including the sale of its Ketchikan plant to Silver Bay Seafoods, finalized on April 24, 2024. Trident continues to seek buyers for other facilities, including its Petersburg plant, which was sold to E.C. Phillips & Son on April 4, 2024. Silver Bay Seafoods expressed optimism about integrating the Ketchikan facility into its operations, emphasizing a smooth transition for stakeholders and underscoring its commitment to supporting Southeast Alaska's salmon fisheries.