Supermarket Perimeter - May 2023 - 90

Seafood: Crab, lobster and salmon
Wild salmon promotions rise
Fresh salmon (wild and farmed) sported a price hike of 9% in the most
recent quarter, according to NielsenIQ and Category Partners, resulting
in the biggest drop of any fresh seafood item at 2.4 million pounds.
While overall salmon prices have risen, retail promotions on wild
salmon are abundant after a record-setting sockeye salmon run of more
than 76 million pounds in Bristol Bay, Alaska, last year. The total sockeye
catch was up 36% year-over-year compared the same period of 2021,
according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Plus, the ADFG expects 189 million total salmon will be harvested for
the upcoming 2023 season - up from 163.2 million last season. This
includes 122 million pink salmon, 48 million sockeye salmon, 16 million
chum salmon, and 3 million coho salmon.
As a result of the surplus, the average price per pound of wild
sockeye salmon on sale at grocery stores is down 7% since early 2022,
compared to an increase of 12% for farmed Atlantic salmon fillets, the
Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA) said in
a news release, citing Urner Barry Retail Features data.
" This means there is an abundance of wild sockeye available at
retailers across the country, with many offering deals as we head into
the 2023 harvest this summer, " said Lilani Dunn, marketing director for
BBRSDA. " As shoppers may be seeing inflated prices for other sources of
protein, wide availability and deals on wild sockeye salmon at retailers
lend even more appeal to America's favorite fish. "
" We are seeing and supporting all kinds of promotions, which include
everything from spotlighting Bristol Bay sockeye salmon through POS
materials, sharing recipes and cooking inspiration for shoppers, and
more, to temporary cost-savings and deals like buy one, get one for
beautiful wild sockeye fillets, " Dunn said. The promotions include both
frozen and refreshed wild sockeye.
Costco, Whole Foods, Albertson's, Trader Joe's, Kroger, and QFC
are among the retailers offering specials on wild Bristol Bay salmon.
Amazon Fresh is offering customers a free 12-ounce Bristol Bay sockeye
salmon filet when they spend more than $100. And Bellevue, Wash.based
Quality Food Centers (QFC) had fresh Bristol Bay sockeye salmon
fillets for $8.99 a pound in early April.
Kroger's Fred Meyer banner recently ran offered headed and gutted
Bristol Bay sockeye for $4.77 a pound, according to Dunn. And Salt Lake
City, Utah-based Harmons recently promoted refreshed sockeye for
$9.49 a pound.
Seattle-based Costco was promoting its frozen Kirkland Signature
wild Alaskan sockeye salmon for $44.99 per 3-pound bag of 5-ounce
to 7-ounce portions on its web site in early April. It was also touting
Northwest Fish's wild Alaskan sockeye fillets for $219.99 for a
It's exciting to see wild Alaska
sockeye at a competitive price;
however, it is most meaningful
that these partners see the value
of the quality, sustainability,
and origin story of Bristol
Bay, Alaska, including the
8,000 fishermen who work so
hard each season to bring this
amazing product to market. "
Lilani Dunn, BBRSDA
90 - MAY 2023
supermarketperimeter.com
10-pound bag.
" Now is the time to stock up on Alaska sockeye and consumers can
feel good about having this wild, sustainable fish on their tables, " Dunn
said. " In addition to home cooks, we encourage retailers, wholesalers,
restaurants, and importers to reach out to us to collaborate on ways to
showcase this tremendous protein. "
Sockeye is one of the most popular salmon species due to its
taste and texture, according to BBRSDA, " which make it perfect
for almost all preparation techniques, including grilling, broiling,
sautéing, roasting, poaching, steaming and smoking. "
" Bristol Bay sockeye salmon is also guaranteed to be wild
and sustainably caught, with the fishery adhering to strict
sustainability standards upheld by the ADFG.
While many grocers are running promotions in the
spring, there will likely be a new batch of promotions
around the start of the fishing season in early summer,
Dunn noted. " Thanks to the high quality of frozen Bristol
Bay sockeye, most channels see a steady demand yearround, "
she said.
More consumers are
looking for wild and
sustainably-sourced
seafood, like Bristol
Bay's salmon.
Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr&release=2023_04_05 https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr&release=2023_04_05 http://www.supermarketperimeter.com
Supermarket Perimeter - May 2023

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