Gourmet News

Alaska Salmon Season on Copper River Opens May 16

Published May 11, 2022

Alaska’s Copper River commercial salmon season will begin May 16, when the region’s commercial fishermen will be allowed to set their nets for 12 hours to harvest king and sockeye salmon from the icy glacial fed waters of the Copper River Delta.

Sustainably harvested according to strict guidelines set by the state of Alaska, Copper River wild salmon — king, sockeye and coho — are renowned worldwide for good reason. High in protein and naturally rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, Copper River salmon return to the region’s massive Delta each year from May to September, making the journey up the steep glacial fed waters. In anticipation of this arduous migration, these salmon naturally build reserves which fuel their journey and make them deliciously rich and desirable to cook.

The small Copper River fleet is made up of independent fishermen who operate small 32-foot boats, carefully catching and bleeding each fish by hand, ensuring the highest quality wild Alaska salmon is sent to retailers in a timely fashion.

The fishery, which has a long legacy of providing superior wild Alaska salmon to restaurants and supermarkets is monitored and managed by biologists at Alaska Department of Fish and Game, using sonar counts, weir passage, aerial escapement surveys, and fishery performance data, to determine escapements and allowable catch. The 2022 commercial harvest forecast for the Copper River District is expected to be below average, so biologists expect a “conservative management approach” at the start of the season.

As the season progresses and more king and sockeye salmon escape up the river to spawn, biologists will adjust commercial openings guided by the state’s regulatory management framework, at the heart of which is the “sustained yield principle.” Overall, this type of management has, as mandated in the Alaska State Constitution since 1959, played a pivotal role in maintaining the fishery while balancing the needs of the environment and fishermen, as well as the marketplace.

“The excitement in town regarding the start of the fishery is palpable right now, always a wonderful time to be on the ground preparing for another season,” said Jeremy Botz, area botanist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Gillnet Management. “A tried and true management approach will be used again this year — conservative management measures are planned early in the season based on the below average forecasts, and, as the season progresses, management will be adapted quickly based on in season indices of run strength to balance fishing opportunity and escapement needs. The commercial fishery will be an important means of evaluating the strength of the king and sockeye salmon runs.”

“Here at Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association,” Executive Director Christa Hoover said, “we are excited to see our small boat fishermen preparing for the season ahead. As they harvest these special, wild, nutrient rich fish from our local Alaska waters, we take pride in the fact that our fishery remains sustainable and viable, which considering the global supply issues at hand, is more important than ever.”

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Growth Potential Seen for At-Home Foods Market

Published May 9, 2022

Middle market investment banking firm Capstone Partners sees significant growth potential for established brands in the at-home foods market with the recent recapitalization of Uncle John’s Pride, a family-owned producer of branded premium meats in the consumer food and beverage sector.

Capstone advised Uncle John’s Pride on the transaction and says the deal highlights influential trends in the at-home foods market. Following the pandemic-induced spike in at-home dining and a growing consumer emphasis on health, wellness and convenience, demand for high-quality proteins to prepare at home has climbed.

With a host of branded products under multiple banners — including Bean Brothers, Peppino Foods, Realtree and more — and distribution through both retail and foodservice channels such as Walmart, Publix, and Winn-Dixie, Uncle John’s Pride has positioned itself as a premium brand with a strong foothold in the Southeastern United States, according to Capstone. UJP’s established regional platform, blue-chip customer base, premium product portfolio, and proven acquisition history position them well to capitalize on these favorable industry trends and robust consumer demand, making them an attractive target for investment.

“This transaction allowed the UJP shareholders to monetize their initial investment in the company, with a substantial return, while still maintaining a meaningful equity stake,” said Capstone Managing Director Brian Boyle. “Going forward, the company is forecasting rapid growth fueled by powerful consumer trends towards high-protein diets and increased at-home dining trends.”

Financing was provided by Promise Holdings, a consumer-focused private holding company, and specialty finance firms Star Mountain Capital and Maranon Capital. With the investment, Uncle John’s Pride will have the capital and resources necessary to expand beyond its established regional platform and pursue significant growth via additional private labeling.

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Southern Glazer’s Donates $100K for Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine

Published May 8, 2022

Alcohol beverage distributor Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is donating a total of $100,000 across three charitable organizations supporting humanitarian aid in Ukraine. The donation is the result of an employee fundraising campaign, in which Southern Glazer’s matched employee contributions to organizations performing meaningful work to help Ukrainian refugees.

In support of the Ukrainian community, Southern Glazer’s pledged to support World Central Kitchen, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere through its donation match campaign. All individual employee donations were made for humanitarian aid in Ukraine through Southern Glazer’s internal giving platform, VolunCheers Online, in order to qualify for the match.

Based on employee contributions and the company match, Southern Glazer’s will be donating $42,214, $40,127.52 and $17,659 respectively to WCK, UNHCR and CARE with the hope that the funds will help the organizations respond with supplies and resources needed to help those affected by the current crisis.

“Southern Glazer’s stands in support of the Ukrainian people and wfe cannot thank our employees enough for their generous contributions to this campaign,” said CEO Wayne E. Chaplin. “Through our VolunCheers platform, we are able to rally our workforce around providing humanitarian relief for Ukraine and its neighboring countries. We are thankful for the meaningful work these charities are spearheading to ensure families are given the supplies and resources needed.”

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