GSMC 2026: Seafood at Retail Defined by Subdued Consumer Sentiment, Channel Shifts and Social Buzz

Anne‑Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, opened the Global Seafood Market Conference 2026 with a data‑driven look at retail seafood. Her core message: 2025 was defined by a subdued consumer environment and unpredictable price movements, making performance harder to forecast even as seafood posted modest dollar growth.

Shopper comments captured in the presentation emphasized “astronomical” prices and affordability fatigue — “It’s tough out there,” consumers were quoted as saying in video messages during Roerink's discussion. Retail inflation remained in the...

GSMC 2026: Shellfish at the Forefront as Tariffs, MMPA and Trade Shifts Reorder Markets

Shellfish suppliers and buyers at GSMC 2026 heard a consistent message from the members of the shellfish panel that was hosted by Annie Tselikis and Expana’s own Janice Schreiber: 2025 was a roller‑coaster year, and 2026 will be about managing volatility, from tariffs and regulatory holds to changing trade flows and pockets of outsized consumer demand. Panelists walked the room through species‑by‑species dynamics, urging versatility on menuing and merchandising as supply and prices keep swinging.

Here's a look at the main takeaways...

ANALYSIS: Retail Prices at Multi‑Year Highs Mark Potential Headwind for Shrimp Demand in 2026

Beyond our proprietary demand index, this week’s focus shifts to updated retail pricing using Circana data available on the Expana platform. Non‑discounted consumer prices have reached their highest levels since at least 2020 and, according to our broader retail feature database, are likely at levels not seen since the EMS period of 2013–2014...

Leadership Updates Announced at Boston Sword & Tuna

Fortune International, the parent company of Boston Sword & Tuna (BST), has announced recent changes to its leadership team.

Larry Dore, a respected industry figure and valued partner at BST since 2012, will step back from daily operational responsibilities as part of a long-term strategic succession plan established in 2023 at the time of the acquisition. Dore will remain actively involved in procurement and sales—areas he is most passionate about.

"Larry’s leadership and dedication have been invaluable to Boston Sword & Tuna, and we are grateful that he...

Grubhub Parent Wonder Acquires Restaurant Rewards App Claim

Grubhub's parent company, Wonder, has announced the acquisition of Claim, a restaurant rewards app that offers exclusive cash-back rewards for dine-in or pick-up orders at local restaurants.

This acquisition promises significant benefits for both restaurants and diners within Grubhub's network. Restaurants can leverage Claim's powerful guest acquisition and retention tools, while diners can enjoy more savings and get paid to eat out.

Claim simplifies the dining experience by automatically recognizing qualifying transactions at the point of payment, without any need for codes or scanning...

ANALYSIS: Live Lobster Market Firms Amid Supply Shortage and Looming Canada-China Tariff Deal

The live lobster market has shown firmer pricing in early January, supported by tightening supply and steady export activity. Adverse weather across Maine and Canada has limited fishing opportunities, while seasonally light effort has further constrained landings. According to NOAA, Maine landings through December are approximately 12 percent below 2024 levels, underscoring a tighter-than-normal supply backdrop. Adding to market complexity are ongoing quality concerns, reported not only in stored Canadian inventory but also in newly landed product...

ANALYSIS: Bangladesh Shrimp Sector Delivers Double-Digit Export Growth

For the second consecutive year, Bangladesh has recorded double-digit growth in shrimp export values in November. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh, shrimp exports reached USD 28.3 million in November, compared with USD 25.6 million one year earlier and USD 22.7 million two years ago. This represents a 24.5% increase over two years for this specific month, which traditionally marks one of the peak periods for Bangladeshi shrimp export activity...

Maruha Nichiro Set for Umios Rebrand, Rolls Out 45 Product Launches for Spring 2026

Maruha Nichiro Corporation, which will change its name to Umios Corporation on March 1, 2026, is launching a broad Spring 2026 product slate designed to target retail convenience trends, foodservice labor constraints and growing demand for sustainable protein and functional ingredients.

The company told trade press it will introduce 45 new and renewed SKUs across six categories — household frozen, canned seafood, surimi (fish-sausage) items, desserts, freeze-dried convenience and commercial frozen lines — as it repositions itself “as a solutions company that makes people...

ANALYSIS: EU–UK Shrimp Imports Maintain Upward Trend Amid Shifting Supply Dynamics

The EU–UK region continues to record positive growth in shrimp imports in 2025, although the latest trade data show a narrowing gap compared with 2024. Eurostat has released November figures showing a 7.7% year-on-year increase in import volumes to 68,687 metric tons, while import values rose by 16.2% to USD 526.5 million.

On a month-on-month basis, November volumes declined by 5.1% compared with October, a slowdown that was largely...

GSMC 2026: Statecraft, Tariffs and a K‑Shaped Economy Set the Macro Stage for 2026

Christian Lawrence, head of cross-asset macro strategy at Rabobank, said 2026 will be shaped by intersecting “regimes” across geopolitics, the economy and markets, with inflation staying close to 3%, growth near trend, cautious Fed easing, and continued use of tariffs and industrial policy as strategic tools. “We are going through some fundamental regime shifts,” Lawrence told GSMC 2026 attendees, citing statecraft, a K‑shaped economy, and “volatility suppression” in markets as the key frames for the year ahead...

ANALYSIS: EU-UK Tuna Trade Report; Supply Sources, Market Share, and Price Development 

The import of frozen skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), and processed tuna to Europe (European Union and United Kingdom) up to November 2025 continues to show rising demand, with imports increasing by 3.1% year-to-date (YTD). Ecuador remains the primary source of tuna, holding a 33.4% market share and accounting for growth of 14.2% YTD. In contrast, Seychelles accounted for 8.0% of the market but supply from Seychelles decreased by 6.6% YTD...

Lobsterfest Makes Waves with Its Limited-Time Return to Red Lobster

Lobsterfest is back at Red Lobster for a limited time, bringing with it a beloved tradition that dates back to 1984. What began as a Valentine’s Day celebration has since grown into an annual event for seafood lovers everywhere.

"Lobsterfest is the event our guests eagerly anticipate each year," said Damola Adamolekun, CEO of Red Lobster. "It’s our annual celebration that showcases iconic fan-favorite dishes alongside new lobster creations—all on a single menu. Lobsterfest embodies the essence of Red Lobster...

Cousins Maine Lobster Returns to Charlotte, NC with Grand Opening of New Food Truck

Cousins Maine Lobster (CML), the industry-leading fast-casual lobster roll brand, is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newest food truck in the Charlotte, North Carolina market. This launch marks Cousins Maine Lobster's fourth truck in the state of North Carolina and a highly anticipated return to the Charlotte area, an enthusiastic market with a loyal fan base eager for authentic Maine lobster to be back on the streets.

The Charlotte food truck is led by long-time Cousins...

Tri-Union Seafoods Issues Urgent Recall of Select Tuna Products Due to Distribution Error

Tri-Union Seafoods has announced a critical recall of certain tuna products after a third-party distributor inadvertently released quarantined items associated with a previous February 2025 recall.

Expana reported that the initial recall was prompted by manufacturing defects in the "easy open" pull tab can lids, which posed risks of product leakage and potential contamination with clostridium botulinum, a severe form of food poisoning that can be fatal.

The current recall was triggered once Tri-Union Seafoods discovered the unauthorized distribution...

Russia Plans to Turn South Korea into One of its Major Destinations for Seafood Supplies

Russia plans to turn South Korea into one of major trade destinations for the supplies of its fish and seafood in years to come.

That will be achieved by the increase of supplies in both volume and value terms.

In recent years, imports of Russian fish to the South Korean market have already exceeded some historic highs, while the growth is currently ongoing. This is also confirmed by some latest official statistics of the Korean Statistical Service, according...

US CBP Tightens Focus on Illegal Transshipping

US Customs and Border Protection issued a CTPAT alert on December 18, 2025, warning of a significant increase in illegal transshipping, the practice of routing and relabeling goods through third countries to evade duties, tariffs, sanctions, or quota controls. While the alert highlights industries such as steel, textiles, and electronics, seafood importers and exporters should take note as well.

CBP emphasized that illegal transshipping is not a benign logistics practice but a deliberate evasion tactic. Companies involved risk severe penalties, including seizures, fines, loss of import privileges, and criminal charges. For seafood businesses...

ANALYSIS: Russian and US Pollock Fillet Exports to Europe Surge in 2025 as China’s Share Drops

Imports of frozen pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) fillets into Europe (European Union and United Kingdom) increased by 23.7% year-to-date (YTD) to October 2025, reaching 240,912 metric tonnes (mt), according to Global Trade Tracker. Russia continues to be the largest supplier to Europe, with a 43.4% market share, followed by the United States (36.0%) and China (20.5%). Exports of pollock fillets to Europe remain active, with Russian and US volumes increasing by 49.0% and 28.9%, respectively, compared with the same period...