Bristol Wild Seafood Company officially opened their doors for business June 1, 2021, yet their experience in Alaska's wild fisheries pales in comparison to most. This company's shareholders represent centuries old traditions of harvesting and thriving on the seafood bounty of Bristol Bay, the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea of Alaska. This nutrient-rich resource was their sustenance and they invest heavily in their role to be its steward. Now, with the support and sophistication of their very own Native Regional Corporation, Bristol Wild Seafood is prepared to share their story and their wild seafood with the world.
Reliable Supply Chains For Food 2021 And Beyond
Buyers sourcing food for retail and food service channels know well the weakness brought forward in the supply chain over the past few years. Bristol Wild Seafood is poised to shorten the supply chain and be a direct and long-term partner. How does that work? Bristol Wild Seafood Company is part of a newly developed horizontally and vertically integrated seafood business and, as such, has greater reliability and control within its supply chain It's customers benefit, as it
owns the resource (fish). That translates to control of the product at its source .
owns the fishing fleet that establishes the quality standards and catches and processes the fish.
directly manages the relationship with the commercial buyer in a lockstep partnership approach.
Who is the ideal candidate (business) that can benefit from working with Bristol Wild Seafood Company?
The supplier/buyer partnership has the potential to be just that - an authentic and successful partnership. "We're in it for the long-game", says Everette Anderson, President of Bristol Wild Seafood Company. "We plan to move beyond Pacific Cod and diversify our species offerings and the buyer partnerships we build now will define what and how that product line is developed and delivered."
Bristol Wild Seafood Company, as part of BBNC, is unique for many reasons and a partner who honors these three ideals provides the greatest opportunity. 1) A commitment to the stewardship of the resource as demonstrated, by BBNC through their work to stop Pebble Mine development in Bristol Bay. 2) Honoring history and culture as demonstrated by BBNC's "fish first" logo signifying their Native cultures 10,,000 years of thriving in and around Bristol Bay. "at the heart of which is salmon, our source of sustenance and inspiration." 3) An alignment of vision. BBNC's vision and goals founded on their core values.
"We see partnerships with tribal businesses along the food service and retail channels as a way to highlight our indigenous roots through our respective stories", Everette explains. "We are anxious to realize strategies with these organizations and show an aligned business model."
Channels in food service and retail that can benefit from the stories of the region, the harvest, the resource and its people resonates with the proud members of the Bristol Wild Seafood Company and its affiliates. "This is our story", says Everette as he describes their organic journey to the establishment of Bristol Wild Seafood Company.
"We have a focus on those companies in retail, food service and manufacturing who have already been purchasing our cod. What is new and different at Bristol Wild is that we are now providing direct access for the buyer. We are the vendor of record, Nobody is in between us. We have been methodical in creating a reliable supply chain of a resource we well know. We are proud to have built a clean linear connection to the source." Everette Anderson, President, Bristol Wild Seafood Company.
Buyers with customers seeking sustainable, healthy and authentic food sources are a natural fit. Bristol Wild Seafood Company is clearly driven to innovate and grow with businesses that have similar traits. Consider the fleet of boats harvesting the catch under the Bristol Bay Seafoods (BBNC) banner. Investment in the fishing vessel - Blue North is a demonstration of the commitment to the harvest component of their supply chain and a glimpse of what they value, as they move ahead at Bristol Wild Seafood Company.
Leadership
We interviewed Everette Anderson, Senior Vice President, Bristol Bay Seafood Investments and President Bristol Wild Seafood to learn about the new company.
Everette was born and raised in Dillingham, Alaska, located at the mouth of the Nushagak River, one of the largest rivers flowing into Bristol Bay. Everette, like most from the village, was immersed in a culture around the annual salmon harvests, celebrations of the bounty and recognition of the value of the sustenance it provided to him and his family before him. He graduated from Dillingham High School and left to pursue his college education, only to return to work in ways that he believed could benefit his region and that meant, for him, around the seafood industry.
Everette is proud of his shareholder status in Bristol Bay Native Corporation, one of 13 Regional Native Corporations that came out of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, on December 18th, 1971. The idea of celebrating 50 years of unprecedented legislation (ANCSA) during the same year that Bristol WIld Seafoods Company is launched is personally and professionally symbolic to Everette. "I am very proud to be a Bristol Bay Native Corporation Shareholder. In my dual roles as Senior VP, Bristol Bay Investments and President of Bristol Wild Seafood Company, I honor those that have brought us to this point and recognize the level of responsibility to our shareholders to continue this path forward and to use this opportunity to further tell our story "
Background and History
For the outsider looking in, it has been intriguing to watch the investments of Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) in the areas related to seafood. While it may seem like a new business sector for investment, it is not. BBNC, at one time owned Peter Pan Seafoods and later ventured into the retail and manufacturing side of food. Decades have passed and the investment is far more strategic and somewhat closer to home. In 2019, BBNC purchase Blue North and Clipper Seafoods, now merged into a company called Bristol Wave Seafoods. Those investments came with quota, vessels, crew and years of success harvesting and selling seafood. In January 2020, Bristol Bay Seafood Investments was formally established. to head up future seafood investments by the corporation.
"At BBNC, we regularly ask each other where can we add more value", explained Everette Anderson, "It is metaphorically like how we were raised to use 100 percent of the salmon - no waste. We now adhere this practice to each of our businesses, as well as them as a unit." This analysis moved forward the business (Bristol Wild Seafood) in order to move beyond commodity markets. The year 2021 presented an opportunity to make that a reality when global supply chains were interrupted.
The last few decades have presented an opportunity for shareholders to be engaged along the food supply chain and with that came knowledge. "It is one thing to own the resource, but now we have shareholders who know the food supply chain (water to the plate) and are bringing that back to the corporation and shareholders", said Everette. "It may have taken 50 years, but we are here now."
It's Game Time Face-Off
Bristol Wild Seafood Company offers their seafood fare at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle through the featured marketplace as the Kraken, one of the newest national hockey franchises, debuts in Seattle.
"As a proud partner of the Seattle Kraken, creating the marketplace with our incredible partners is the natural next step in promoting the best of Bristol Bay while educating arena visitors about Alaska and the bold, cooperative spirit of our people" - BBNC President & CEO Jason Metrokin
In anticipation of hockey fans seeking out more of the seafood fare,
Bristol Wild Seafood Company launched an on-line store featuring Pacific Cod portions, Sockeye Salmon Portions, Sockeye Salmon Fillets and, of course, The Kraken Pack. While Bristol Wild Seafood Company is focused on its commercial channel development, they want to demonstrate the customization, flexibility and initiative in providing access to all of their fans.
The Future
The challenge will continue to persist for Bristol Wild Seafood company, in terms of how they and their sister companies can add value. "I see more integration of science and technology", Everette replied. "We can be the best at green harvesting methods and raise the bar on keeping the lowest possible footprint and the resource healthy. Are we bystanders or leaders? We made the choice a very long time ago, but the light is shining on those decisions only now. We are here now and in for the long game."
Senior Vice President, Bristol Bay Seafood Investments
President Bristol Wild Seafood
Press Releases And Information:
The Taste Of Alaska Comes to Climate Pledge Arena with the
NEW Bristol Bay Wild Market.
Bristol Bay Native Corporation Overview
Bristol Bay Wild Seafood Company Overview