Effective April 20th, 2015, Skuna Bay, Vancouver Island Craft Raised Salmon is entering the Florida market with newly announced distributor partner North Star Seafood. This expansion effectively brings access to Skuna Bay Salmon to all four corners of the United States making Florida the 33rd state where Skuna Bay is now available. After a lengthy due diligence process that began in 2013, North Star Seafood was selected as exclusive distributing partner in Florida for their reputation for quality, sustainable sourcing, service and outstanding cold chain.
“Our passion is to consistently provide the great chefs of America with great salmon so their customers always have a fantastic salmon dining experience ,” says Dave Mergle, Director for Skuna Bay. “Florida has long been on our wish list because there are some great chefs and restaurants in their many cities and resorts but until now we weren’t able to make the logistics work perfectly. Since Skuna Bay relies on the perfect cold chain, we weren’t ready to launch until we had that worked out. Now we do – and Florida here we come.”
Skuna Bay Salmon is reared in pristine, glacier-fed waters off the coast of Vancouver Island, B.C. by a dedicated, passionate team of Craftsmen Farmers. North America’s only Craft Raised salmon’s rise in popularity began with its launch in the Southwest region of the United States in November of 2011, and has now been served at more than 2,500 high-end restaurants and boutique retailers across more than 30 states and major urban markets including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Seattle and Minneapolis - and now in Miami, Orlando, Tampa-St Petersberg and Fort Lauderdale.
“We have been working closely with Skuna Bay in planning for this day for more than two years now,” says Rick Burman , President and CEO of North Star Seafood. “We are delighted that our patience has paid off. Now beautiful Skuna Bay salmon will arrive in Florida shortly after being harvested from the ocean in British Columbia. We think our many discerning customers will appreciate these perfect salmon and the pride and attention to detail that has gone into getting it here in fresh-from-the-ocean-condition.”
Said Josh Burman, Chief Operating Officer for North Star Seafood “We are thrilled to be bringing Skuna Bay’s Salmon to our Florida and Caribbean customers. Several chefs that have worked in other parts of the country and are familiar with Skuna Bay are very excited about being able to serve this amazing product to their guests. It is not only great salmon, but it is also sustainable and raised in a way that has a very positive effect on the ocean environment. “
Skuna Bay Salmon will be launching all over Florida with appearances by its own Craftsman Farmers who will spend the week visiting customers along with North Star Seafood personnel to introduce the Vancouver Island Craft Raised Salmon up and down the state.
To date, Skuna Bay Salmon is advocated by well-known chefs from across America including Michael Kornick of MK in Chicago, Jennifer Jasinski of Rioja in Denver, Ed Brown of Ed’s Chowderhouse in New York and Anne Kearney of Rue Dumaine in Dayton, OH. Skuna Bay is the House Purveyor of Salmon to the James Beard House and the Preferred Salmon to the James Beard Awards. For more information, please visitwww.SkunaSalmon.com. Follow Skuna Bay on Twitter at @SkunaBay.