Rising Cost for Alaska Pollock Intensifies Squeeze on Margins

摘要

Surimi sales are up and turnover is increasing in the European marketplace, but price pressure affecting producers across the food chain may feel even heavier for makers of crab-flavored sticks and other seafood analogs. Large discount retail chains,with their growing market share and immense buying power in major EU countries, are driving the downward price spiral. At the same time, more expensive raw material is trimming profit margins for seafood blend manufacturers. Surimi base costs have advanced sharply in the past year, going up 20% on average during the third quarter of 2004 alone.