Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
October 26, 2007
Gourmet Seafood Manufacturer Set to
Penetrate Export Markets
A St. John�s-based food company has received funding
from the Provincial Government to develop and test-market a line of
seafood appetizers for export markets. Dockside Appetizers Ltd. has
received $31,000 from the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development�s Commercialization Program.
"There is a growing taste for seafood in North America
and Dockside Appetizers seeks to develop new combinations of seafood
that will appeal to an increasingly discerning market," said the
Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minster of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development. "The province is pleased to see companies like Dockside
Appetizers doing more at the secondary processing level. As a government
we are committed to companies adding value to their products and
expanding their market potential."
Dockside Appetizers is run by husband-and-wife team,
Henry and Winnie Cowan, who are working with a number of local chefs to
develop new products such as Thai-dressed crispy cold water shrimp
wontons, cold water shrimp stuffed arrancini, and phyllo-wrapped crab
legs.
"One of the most exciting trends in food service is
fusion foods, which takes the best parts of ethnic cuisines and fuses
them into a new product," said Henry Cowan, president, Dockside
Appetizers. "People are always looking for new tastes, and we want to
use that fact to penetrate the high-end hors d�oeuvres specialty market.
Our first customer, Costco, is expected to carry our Crispy Thai Crab
Wontons in 21 locations by Christmas."
Dockside Appetizers has developed six products which
have found acceptance with a large Canadian dining chain. It targets
retail specialty markets, foodservice catering markets, and private
label markets. The company will use the new funding to extend its
product line and penetrate export markets.
