December 17, 2013

Big Glory Bay plans to supply salmon products to Australia

A subsidiary of the Alliance Select Foods International Inc. (ASFI), a leading Filipino seafood processor and exporter, intends to expand its operations domestically and abroad and is interested in finding fishing centres in New Zealand.

Big Glory Bay Salmon & Seafood Company (BGB), a partnership between ASFI and New Zealand's Prime Foods NZ Ltd., is planning to supply fresh and processed salmon products to Australia supermarket chain Woolworths starting the first quarter of 2014, GMA News reported.

"After five years of exporting, we realised that there is room in the Philippines for expansion. That's why we are developing this market," pointed out BGB Business Unit Head Juan Paolo Araneta.

Sources from BGB Business remarked the firm has been authorised by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection service as a seller of salmon products to Australia. It has been stressed that Woolworths has also granted the firm the "strict" accreditation process for the supply of salmon products under its house brand Signature Range.

Big Glory imports most of its salmon from Japan, Chile and New Zealand but only the fish coming from New Zealand is exported to other countries, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and New Zealand and the Philippines.

ASFI first entered the salmon business in 2009 and in October last year, it signed a deal to take over 80% of New Zealand-based fresh and smoked salmon processor Akaroa Salmon NZ Ltd.