New Marketing Initiatives Undertaken with Funding from Provincial Government

Fogo Island Co-operative Society Limited is receiving assistance from the Provincial Government to develop new marketing material to promote their seafood business and expanding product line. The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced today $22,530 toward the project under the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program toward this project.

“Effective marketing is essential in today’s competitive fishing industry,” said Minister King. “Consumers need to be aware of the products that companies in our province have to offer. Our fishing industry is active and here for the long term, and more people should know the exciting things we have to offer.”

Due to sales and market inquiries from both new and existing customers, Fogo Island Co-operative Society Limited saw benefits to developing specialized, high-quality marketing materials to promote their business more effectively.

“I’m very pleased that the government is providing assistance to this project,” said the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and MHA for the Isles of Notre Dame. “Supporting our local businesses with their marketing endeavors is important to their continued success. With Fogo Island Co-operative Society having the capability to create new marketing material to promote their business, in turn, they are really promoting our province. I look forward to seeing the end results.”

The funding will support the development of a new marketing brochure, a DVD and a website upgrade which will contain product photos, company information, retractable banners and posters to be used at trade shows. The brochure will outline the history of the company, main product lines, attention to quality and harvesting and processing capabilities.

“It’s vital that our markets understand where we are, what we have to offer and in what forms,” said Philip Barnes, General Manager of Fogo Island Co-operative Society Limited. “Equally as important the consumer must understand the nutritional values contained in our products and the quality assurance that we undertake to produce such products and ensure its safe. I would like to thank the Provincial Government for giving us the means by which to spread the word of our products to our potential markets. This is a win-win situation.”

During the first three years of the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program, the Provincial Government invested approximately $6 million to support a total of 127 industry-driven projects. The program was continued for another three years with a total investment of $6.6 million through Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador.

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2012 01 10                        10:50 a.m.