Seafood Procurement: Strategies for Success

Moderator:
Chuck Anderson, Certified Quality Foods

Panelists:
Kyle Graser, Euro USA
Shawn Oliver, Giant Eagle
Casey Rutherford, Patagonia SeaFarms Inc.
Phil Walsh, LegitFish 

Seafood is unlike any other protein, particularly in procurement. The right product is neither the most expensive nor the least expensive, but rather the product that will deliver or exceed budgeted profit. Correct procurement makes selling it easy and serving it a pleasure. The conference session will provide seafood novices with the fundamentals of procurement, veteran buyers with the procurement tools, methods, and protocols in place today, and the supply community with the immoveable expectations of today’s seafood buyers. Topics will include: How do logistics challenges affect procurement strategies? How does product cost inflation impact buying decisions? Additional topics addressed include wild vs. farmed sourcing strategies, fresh vs. frozen sourcing strategies, paying the right price, timely communications, visiting suppliers, the definition of a good supplier and the importance of integrity.