![]() Sign at Clearwater Seafoods headquarters | |
Industry | Seafood |
---|---|
Founded | 1976 |
Founders | John Risley and Colin MacDonald |
Headquarters | , Canada |
Owner | Premium Brands Holdings Corporation and FNC Holdings Limited Partnership |
Website |
www |
Clearwater Seafoods is a seafood company based in Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada. [1] It is the largest shellfish producer in North America. [2]
The company was founded in 1976 by John Risley and Colin MacDonald. [1] The pair sold lobster out of a truck, and gradually expanded the business from there, reaching global revenues of Can$500 million in 2015. [3] [4]
Clearwater Seafoods is a vertically integrated producer, meaning it is involved in all stages of the process from harvest to distribution. [3] The company fishes and processes products that include sea cucumber, crab, lobster, scallops, and clam, distributed in 59 countries. [1] As of 2019 [update] its global sales were Can$612 million. [1] However, its sales were significantly impacted by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the cessation of live lobster sales in China. [2]
In November 2020, it was announced that Clearwater Seafoods was acquired as a joint venture partnership between Premium Brands Holdings Corporation and a group of Mi’kmaq First Nations (under the name FNC Holdings Limited Partnership) for Can$1 billion. [5] [6] As part of this deal, the Mi'kmaq acquired all of the company's fishing licenses. [5] Membertou First Nation Chief Terry Paul referred to the deal as a "generational acquisition" which "will have lasting positive impacts on the economics of our Mi'kmaq communities". [7] Reports on this sale have commented that it may exacerbate the 2020 Mi'kmaq lobster dispute. [8] [7]
![]() Sign at Clearwater Seafoods headquarters | |
Industry | Seafood |
---|---|
Founded | 1976 |
Founders | John Risley and Colin MacDonald |
Headquarters | , Canada |
Owner | Premium Brands Holdings Corporation and FNC Holdings Limited Partnership |
Website |
www |
Clearwater Seafoods is a seafood company based in Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada. [1] It is the largest shellfish producer in North America. [2]
The company was founded in 1976 by John Risley and Colin MacDonald. [1] The pair sold lobster out of a truck, and gradually expanded the business from there, reaching global revenues of Can$500 million in 2015. [3] [4]
Clearwater Seafoods is a vertically integrated producer, meaning it is involved in all stages of the process from harvest to distribution. [3] The company fishes and processes products that include sea cucumber, crab, lobster, scallops, and clam, distributed in 59 countries. [1] As of 2019 [update] its global sales were Can$612 million. [1] However, its sales were significantly impacted by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the cessation of live lobster sales in China. [2]
In November 2020, it was announced that Clearwater Seafoods was acquired as a joint venture partnership between Premium Brands Holdings Corporation and a group of Mi’kmaq First Nations (under the name FNC Holdings Limited Partnership) for Can$1 billion. [5] [6] As part of this deal, the Mi'kmaq acquired all of the company's fishing licenses. [5] Membertou First Nation Chief Terry Paul referred to the deal as a "generational acquisition" which "will have lasting positive impacts on the economics of our Mi'kmaq communities". [7] Reports on this sale have commented that it may exacerbate the 2020 Mi'kmaq lobster dispute. [8] [7]