Top Story: Boston Sword and Tuna calls it quits with Market Basket, a former major customer 

News Summary

Tim Malley, CEO of Boston Sword and Tuna, has written an open letter expressing his frustration with the current management of Market Basket that has caused a stir in Boston. His company was the major seafood supplier for the chain. He details the impact of the change in leadership, and the incompetence that followed - leading up to a decision to no longer do business with the company if they keep current management. Market Basket is a classic case of a dysfunctional family fight destroying a well established company, and it is painful to watch. As time goes on the chances of rescuing the chain and bringing back the old management and buyers fades - as most customers stay away. 

This week we should get the first reports on Texas freezer vessels shrimp landings. Also the Louisiana white shrimp season has opened. So far the demand for Gulf shrimp and low landings have led to a record price spread with imports, but as the volume from the new seasons kick in, most buyers are expecting prices to ease. 

Changing tastes, bycatch and mercury fears all combine to cut volumes of canned tuna dramatically, but dollar value of category continues to increase. 

Two developments in the Russian import situation are that first, some Russian salmon companies are re-orienting to supply more to the domestic market, and second, Russia may make some changes in their banned product list, to take in salmon smolts for their farms for example, or their farmed salmon industry will collapse.

In Minneapolis St. Paul, the distributor The Fish Guys has teamed up with restaurants to run a second successful summer promotion for a local crawfish, which is an invasive species in Minnesota lakes, and harvests help control the population. It is a win/win situation.

John Sackton, Editor And Publisher , Lexington, Massachusetts 

Seafood.com News 1-781-861-1441 

Email comments to jsackton@seafood.com

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