Global Food Collaborative

Leon Marcincowski, Chair of Cook Inlet Salmon Brand, Inc. and Dan Thompson, President of Kenai River Seafoods announced an agreement that the Kenai Wild® Salmon brand will be exclusively processed and marketed by Kenai River Seafoods.     “This is a marvelous opportunity to gain a working partnership with a local processor to create the sustainable business model we had envisioned for our regional harvesters”, said Leon Marcinkowski, a 35+ year local commercial harvester and Board Chair of Cook Inlet Salmon Brand, Inc. (developers and owners of the Kenai Wild® brand).    Dan Thompson, President of Kenai River Seafoods was pleased to see the agreement come together for what looks to be a robust season.   He said earlier today,   “This is a positive move to respond to the marketplace with a nationally recognized brand, backed up by unsurpassed quality standards, with a significant and positive economic impact on our region.     Not only are we growing a market segment for quality seafood, but the economic impact to our region by keeping more of the links of the supply chain in our area is what we have all worked so hard to realize.   We look forward to being part of a very successful relationship with Cook Inlet Salmon Brand, Inc.” Kenai Wild® will be able to be purchased through Kenai River Seafoods after June 1, 2008 by calling 877.434.7449About Kenai River Seafoods

Kenai River Seafoods is Alaskan owned and operated by five local drift fishermen and one processing specialist and former seafood inspector—all of whom have been in the industry for decades.  While Kenai River Seafoods (KRS) is a relatively young company, as compared to other seafood processers, it has left its mark already on the landscape with commercial buyers of seafood, as well as its regional harvesters.      KRS features a section on their website about what makes them different and their product truly a premium food product - including such attention to limited time fish is held in its nets, bleeding/chilling and regular monitoring of temperature and handling are the KRS processing signature for the region.

Commercial buyers are growing in numbers recognizing the KRS difference.   Regional harvesters are also noticing the difference and fiercely loyal and proud of their newest regional processor.    Harvesters are encouraged to be fully engaged and have ownership in their product that is purchased and processed through Kenai River Seafoods and have been willing to meet the rigorous quality standards set forth by KRS and they have been rewarded through compensation and a growing and healthy business model.   Kenai River Seafoods is owned and operated by
Dan Thompson, Gary Alexander, Rich King, Richard Thompson, Jeff Hodder and Sean Crosby.


About Kenai Wild®

Cook Inlet Salmon Brand, Inc. (CISB), a non-profit corporation, incorporated February 6th, 2002, has been working to establish Cook Inlet “Branded” sockeye as unique to terms of quality, market recognition and value to its customers.    Their mission is to increase profitability to the Cook Inlet Fisheries by helping to produce consistent, high quality, wild Alaskan seafood products and to improve the economic outlook for the Cook Inlet fishing industry, the Kenai Peninsula borough community and the State of Alaska through quality training programs, purchase of up to date processing equipment and locating high-value markets.   Kenai Wild has boasted up to 200 harvesters associated with its branding program since its inception in 2002.

or Sean Crosby, General Manager, Kenai River Seafoods
877.434.7449
www.kenairiverseafoods.com

or

Cook Inlet Salmon Brand, Inc.  
907.335.9453