Alaskan Grown Company Increases Processing Capacity In Bristol Bay, Alaska

April 21, 2015: Anchorage, Alaska – Today, Copper River Seafoods’ ownership group announced the acquisition of a new salmon processing facility and associated assets in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The facility, previously known as Extreme Salmon, is located in Naknek, Alaska.

“The timing couldn’t be better, we’re increasing processing capacity and supporting fishermen of the region during a projected banner year,” said Scott Blake, President and CEO of Copper River Seafoods.

Access to the sockeye salmon resources of Bristol Bay is the next logical step in Copper River Seafoods’ ongoing statewide expansion. The Naknek operations will create approximately 70 new seasonal jobs in the region, adding to Copper River Seafoods' workforce of 600 people at peak season throughout the state.

“Our plan is for the Naknek operations to produce a mix of frozen headed and gutted sockeye salmon and fresh sockeye fillets, increasing our total production by 4-5 million pounds,” said Blake. The new acquisition strengthens Copper River Seafoods’ position as one of the major wild sockeye producers in the United States.

In line with Copper River Seafoods’ facilities in Anchorage, Cordova, Kenai, Togiak, and Kotzebue, salmon from the Naknek, Alaska plant will be Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM), and United States Department of Commerce (USDC) HACCP QMP certified. In addition to these certifications, the facility will also operate under Global Food Safety Initiative Standards (British Retail Consortium).

“We are working swiftly to ensure the plant is fully operational in time for the start of the 2015 Bristol Bay sockeye salmon season and plan to invest several million dollars in the Naknek plant over the next three years,” said Rodger May, a partner in the new operation.

“We are operating in Alaska, using Alaskan resources, and creating Alaskan jobs. For me, that’s what it’s all about,” said Blake.

About Copper River Seafoods

In 1996, Scott Blake, a fourth generation commercial fisherman, partnered with three other fishermen to establish Copper River Seafoods. The primary driver behind the formation of the company was to protect the fishermen of Alaska by ensuring the opportunities they had would be available for the next generation. Today Copper River Seafoods, which operates facilities in Cordova, Anchorage, Kenai, Naknek, Togiak, and Kotzebue, Alaska is a professional food manufacturing firm that provides economic sustainability for Alaskan fishermen and the State of Alaska. Learn more at www.copperriverseafoods.com.

Press Contact: Cassandra Squibb, Chief Marketing Officer, Copper River Seafoods, 907-522-7806