PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep 36 - Essential Procurement Skills & Advice, Feat. Malcolm Harrison

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.

On today's episode, we welcome Malcolm Harrison, an international board-level executive with expertise in general management, operations, procurement, and sales. He has worked in diverse business environments across Brazil, China, France, Gulf states, the UK, the US, and West Africa. A veteran and engaging leader, Malcolm has always sought to improve business performance through growth and efficiency. He has a track record of quickly identifying gaps and opportunities for continuous improvement

ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Import Estimates and Retail Signals Point to a Tightening, Form‑Specific Market 

Country‑level import estimates through October show a post‑frontload correction: modeled volumes for September and October are down roughly 10% and 18% year‑on‑year, respectively, while year‑to‑date imports are up about 8% but essentially flat (+3.6%) since May. Ecuador’s volumes increase relative to other origins; India, Indonesia and Vietnam display divergent month‑to‑month paths. Model error ranges run roughly 9–18% by origin, depending on data history. Finalized customs data and country export splits remain pending...

Court Drops All Charges Against Quinlan in Bay de Verde Crab Case

Quinlan Seafood says a court has dismissed all charges related to crab production and handling at its Bay de Verde facility after the Crown chose not to call any evidence, concluding there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.

In a November 13 statement, the company said the decision vindicates its position that the allegations were unfounded and rooted in “flawed testing, unproven and untested technology, and improper inspection authority.” Quinlan President Robin Quinlan said the company and its employees had “borne the weight” of what he called arbitrary...

USDA Gets Seafood Liaison Post After Shutdown Deal; Appropriations Move to Bar China‑Sourced Seafood

The US government has approved a Seafood Liaison position within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) included in the appropriations legislation that put an end to the longest government shutdown in the history of the country.

The post is funded through the FY2026 Agriculture appropriations package, where Senate Appropriations Committee language earmarks $625,000 to establish a “Seafood Industry Liaison” in the Office of the Secretary. Committee text describes the liaison as “solely responsible for the effective coordination of seafood policies...

Japan: Frozen POP Imports in January-September Fell by 28% to 7,025 Tons; US POP Plummets by 54%

The import volume of frozen redfish from January to September was 7,025 tons, down 28% from the same period last year. The slowdown trend in recent years has been spurred. The main U.S. production fell by 54% to 2,791 tons. The background is the decline in buying due to "the buying sentiment of the Chinese processing industry has increased very much" (trading company sources).

The import volume was 2.30,000~3.10,000 tons in 2012...

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

Southern‑Style Seafood Arrives in Europe as Captain D's Debuts in the UK

Captain D’s opened its first United Kingdom and European flagship restaurant in Broadstairs, Kent, last month, roughly nine months after the company announced it had signed a 20-unit franchise agreement in the UK, as Expana reported.

The milestone launch marks a major step in the brand's international expansion and introduces British diners to authentic American Southern-style seafood, the company said in a press release.

"This grand opening is a proud and emotional moment for us," said Daryl Stutchbury, CEO of Captain D's UK...

OBBBA’s 2nd Oil Lease Sale this March for Alaska’s Cook Inlet, 1st Sale Next Month for Gulf States

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today announced two major oil and gas lease sales last Friday, as promised in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

BOEM, part of the Department of the Interior, released the Final Notice of Sale for Lease Sale Big Beautiful Gulf 1 (BBG1), the first of 30 Gulf of America lease sales. The Gulf of Mexico was renamed by Trump to the Gulf of America...

Veramaris Unveils Leadership Changes as It Enters New Expansion Phase

Veramaris recently announced leadership changes in alignment with the company's next phase of strategic evolution.

In this phase, the company aims to deepen partnerships, expand its operational footprint, and establish itself as the industry's certified sustainable purveyor of essential Omega-3s.

The focus will be on scaling responsibly, supporting partners with reliable nutrition solutions, and enabling the industry to plan with greater confidence.

As part of these changes, Mark van Nieuwland will succeed Gertjan de Koning as CEO, effective January 1, 2026. He will join...

2026 Bristol Bay Sockeye Run Forecast of 45.32 Million, 12 Percent Below 2025’s Forecast

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) released its forecast for the 2026 Bristol Bay salmon season yesterday, predicting a run of 45.32 million and a catch of 32.26 million sockeye. This is 26% smaller than the most recent 10-year average of 61.0 million fish and 21% greater than the long-term average of 37.40 million fish (1963–2025). 

Yesterday’s forecast compared to last year’s final forecast, also released in November, for a 2025 run of 51.3 million and a forecasted...

Industry Hears What's Working For Retail and Foodservice Sectors at ASMI’s All Hands Meeting

Last week, leaders in Alaska’s seafood industry heard from Circana and Technomic about retail and foodservice trends in seafood, including a deep dive into what motivates consumers to buy more seafood today. 

The audience of seafood executives — from CEOs to vessel captains — are all members of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, attending the annual All Hands meeting for four days to share research and analysis with real-world experience in harvesting, processing, distribution, and marketing.

“There are five mega trends driving food sales in retail...

Chilean Salmon Joint Venture BluGlacier Joins NFI Sushi Council

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI)’s Salmon Council welcomed BluGlacier as its newest member on November 13.

NFI said the addition of BluGlacier adds a key voice to the sushi industry’s efforts in responsible sourcing, supply chain transparency and product integrity.

BluGlacier was founded in 2016 as a US joint-venture between leading Chilean salmon producers Salmones Blumar S.A. and Ventisqueros S.A. The company has a foundation in the Chilean aquaculture space and boasts a commercial base in Miami. NFI noted the company’s sourcing of Atlantic and Coho salmon in southern...

Failed Norway Talks Could Trigger Cod Shortage, Price Spike in Russia

The situation for cod in Russia could worsen quickly if Moscow and Oslo fail to reach an agreement on Barents Sea cod quotas.

Norwegian and Russian media report that negotiations are ongoing but have made little progress. If talks collapse, Russia’s cod sector could face shortages and a sharp rise in prices.

Since the start of the Russia‑Ukraine war, Norway has generally supported EU sanctions packages, while seeking to maintain fisheries cooperation with Russia. In August, however, Oslo restricted two Russian fishing companies on state‑security grounds...

Norwegian Seafood Council Sees Big Opportunity for At-Home Poké as UK Consumers Embrace Raw Seafood

Recent research from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) points to a potential opportunity for retailers and companies to develop Hawaiian-inspired poke products for at-home consumption.

The NSC reported that 42% of consumers in the United Kingdom are opting to eat poke away from home, with most citing health benefits and taste as their reasons. However, of the 54% who said they have prepared poke at home, only 30% do so on a monthly basis, with half of that total saying it’s something...

Reports of Possible ICE Facility Near Newport, Ore., Stir Concern

City and state officials are seeking clarification after reports surfaced that the US Department of Homeland Security may be evaluating potential sites along the Oregon Coast, including property near the Newport Municipal Airport, for a new US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

In a statement released Monday, Newport city leaders confirmed they had received credible information indicating the airport property, currently deeded to the US Coast Guard, was identified as one possible location. The city emphasized that, although details remain unconfirmed, the potential for an ICE facility...

Q3 Results Drive Foodservice Headlines in First Half of November

Major industry players across the business captured attention in the first half of the month as foodservice providers released new insights from their quarterly reports.

Many restaurants are facing challenges in the third quarter as US consumers cut back on frequent dining. This compilation provides a thorough overview of key players' performance results and the latest in the most notable company news.

QSR's

McDonald's Q3, FY 2025

McDonald's reported a 3.6% increase in global same-store sales for the third quarter, surpassing analysts' expectations...

BioMar Delivers Continued High-Volume Growth and Solid Earnings in Q3

Hitting the peak season, BioMar delivered a record Q3 with an all-time high EBITDA result. Volumes increased by 9% year on year in Q3, while EBITDA increased by 10%. The volume growth was primarily attributable to positive developments in Chile and Ecuador, while biological conditions had an adverse impact on volumes in Norway.

As a continuation of the strong growth in volumes in Q2, the company is well ahead of last year, and with only few months left of 2025, it is looking like yet another good year