New merchandise can mean new clients, progressed utilization and multiplied value for the complete seafood enterprise. In Alaska, we rejoice innovations in product improvement through an annual occasion called the Alaska Symphony of Seafood. The Symphony is a competition for brand spanking new business-ready merchandise crafted from Alaska seafood. Each product entered in the competition is grouped into certainly one of four classes: Retail, Foodservice, Beyond the Plate and Beyond the Egg. The winners get hold of booth area and airfare to the Seafood Expo North America and are entered into the expo’s new products contest, in conjunction with many different blessings.
As we put together for the twenty-seventh annual Symphony, we pay attention from two past winners, Alaskan Leader Seafood and Barnacle Foods, how the Symphony benefited their brands.
What merchandise did you input?
Alaskan Leader Seafood: We entered Alaskan Cod with Lemon Herb Butter and received Best in Retail and the Grand Prize.
Barnacle Foods: We entered our Campfire Kelp Salsa and have been decided on because of the Juneau People’s Choice.
How did the Symphony assist you marketplace a modern product?
AL: Winning the award spotlighted our business enterprise in several articles and radio interviews. Many outlets are constantly searching out a famous and sustainable product to showcase in their seafood departments, so the Symphony put us on the map in several areas.
BF: The Symphony introduced us to several new clients and turned into superb publicity for our logo and the undertaking of Barnacle Foods. Our product was the first ever kelp product in the competition, so it becomes additionally an honor to win and produce interest to the growing mariculture industry in Alaska.
What became the most critical factor of the collection of Symphony activities?
AL: The maximum essential factor of the occasion became how honest it became. No one had an upper hand, no person out-muscled the little guy; it was straight-up fair and square. It offers little organizations a combating danger on this demanding and aggressive market.
BF: The receptions in Seattle and Juneau were extraordinary opportunities to hook up with customers and different Alaska seafood corporations. There is lots of information in the industry, and lots of classes to be discovered from innovations in other sectors of the seafood enterprise. Seafood Expo North American in Boston changed into the highlight of collaborating. Thousands of seafood enterprise members from around the sector sampled our product. We acquired useful comments and built connections across the usa and world.
What consequences do you observe the Symphony had?
AL: The most seen impact changed into how a whole lot of social media grabbed onto our product and unfold the phrase. Also, by prevailing, you robotically had been granted access to the international new product competition at SENA. That’s a big deal due to the fact you’re now competing with the arena’s high-quality. Just ask the winner of final 12 months what passed off to them. They were given crushed with the new enterprise.
BF: The Symphony helped us release our product line, won our enterprise popularity and helped us develop relationships with many manufacturers and seafood industry organizations. Being on the Boston display exposed us to the value of the seafood change and recognized which markets will make the most experience for our business enterprise to pursue inside destiny.
What could destiny Symphony entrants need to know?
AL: I inspire all agencies which might be the usage of Alaska seafood to expand a product and compete. It keeps each person striving to be higher and sell Alaska seafood as the area’s best on the arena level!
BF: Participating in the Symphony enables advantage attitude on how massive the worldwide seafood market is. It will help your emblem recognize that you’re a small fish in a huge sea and that there’s loads of area to develop. Seafood is global, and the industry participants are properly linked with one another. It helped our organization start to open doors.
