Pandemic brought record sales for canned salmon
April 1st 2:54 pm |
It's "back to the future" for Alaska canned salmon as more Americans choose it for its health benefits and as an easy-to-use ingredient for sandwiches, salads and more.
Salmon canning in Alaska started in the 1870s and by the early 20th century, it was the state's largest industry, generating 80% of the territorial tax revenues. Its position then in the state economy is one that oil enjoys today.
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed record sales for the pantry shelf product and canned salmon sales soared by 30.3% in 2020 to $286 million.
"Suddenly, there was double the demand for an item that's normally very predictable," said John Daly, manager of domestic canned sales for OBI Seafoods, Alaska's largest producer of canned pink and sockeye salmon at nine plants across the state. "It's not like the seafood counter at grocery stores. The canned fish business is the grocery business. It's a center store aisle item. The best ability is availability, and that was really important because consumers were willing to buy anything and everything that was shelf stable and canned."