|
THE first exports of smoked salmon following a new deal earlier this year between a New Zealand fish company and a Philippine processor are now making their way to the supermarkets.
Alliance Select Foods International Inc says that its General Santos-based subsidiary Big Glory Bay Salmon and Seafood Co. has started exporting smoked salmon products to a leading store chain in Hong Kong.
It was only a few months ago that Prime Foods NZ Ltd announced that it has formed a smoked salmon joint venture with the successful tuna processor, Alliance Tuna International Inc.
A new joint venture company, Big Glory Bay Salmon and Seafood Co. then built a seafood smoke house operation close to Alliance’s present factory in the Philippine city of General Santos City on the southern island of Mindanao.
The venture hopes to see processing volumes grow from 300 tons to over 1,200 tons of salmon a year. This week in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Alliance Select Foods International said its subsidiary’s first shipment was an order for cold salmon slices to a leading supermarket in Hong Kong.
According to ASFI corporate information officer Rajat Balain, Big Glory Bay salmon has a healthy set of orders for the export market.The company’s smoked salmon products will also be available locally at fine retail and dining establishments.
The company said: "We expect orders to pick up significantly in the next few months as the firm’s marketing outreach programme gains momentum and contribute significantly to ASFI’s growth and profitability."
This move is widely expected to bring major benefits to New Zealand through increased salmon exports as well as being able to offer all markets a wider range of innovative, quality products.
Should people be 'stimulated' to eat white fish alternatives to cod?
