August 14, 2026
Back-to-School Demand Shifts Drive Breakfast, Value and New Menu Moves in Foodservice
With back-to-school season just around the corner, foodservice operators and suppliers are gearing up for a familiar demand shift—more morning traffic, more weeknight convenience, and tighter attention to value. This biweekly roundup highlights the key moves across the sector, from hot breakfast and grab-and-go meal plays to new menu items and notable financial results shaping the weeks ahead.
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Back-to-School Demand Shifts Drive Breakfast, Value and New Menu Moves in Foodservice
With back-to-school season just around the corner, foodservice operators and suppliers are gearing up for a familiar demand shift—more morning traffic, more weeknight convenience, and tighter attention to value. This biweekly roundup highlights the key moves across the sector, from hot breakfast and grab-and-go meal plays to new menu items and notable financial results shaping the weeks ahead.
Promotions and limited time offers
Breakfast all day
7-Eleven is launching limited-time back-to-school breakfast...
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FDA Moves to Make GRAS Notifications Mandatory, With Implications for Seafood Processors
The US Food and Drug Administration has proposed a rule that would fundamentally change how food companies, including seafood processors, handle ingredients and processing aids that have long been used without formal FDA review.
Published in the Federal Register on August 11, the proposal would make notification to FDA mandatory for substances currently marketed under the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) designation. Under the existing system, companies can independently conclude that a substance is safe for a particular use and introduce it into commerce without ever notifying FDA...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: European Pollock Imports Decline as Supply Tightens and Prices Rally
Imports of frozen pollock fillets into Europe (European Union and United Kingdom) decreased 6.9% year to date (YTD) through May 2026, reaching 110,649 MT, according to National Customs. Russia remains the dominant supplier with a 46.5% market share, followed by the US (33.5%) and China (19.7%). Both US and Chinese suppliers experienced significant declines, with volumes down 15.9% and 15.5% YTD, respectively...
Full Story »USDA Returns to Market for Catfish and Alaska Pollock Products
The US Department of Agriculture has issued two new solicitations for frozen seafood products, seeking 4.41 million pounds of catfish fillets and 11,700 cases of Atlantic pollock fillets for domestic food distribution programs — continuing the accelerated government procurement activity Expana has been tracking this year.
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service issued both solicitations on August 13 under its Section 32 and entitlement purchasing authority. Bids are due by 1:00 p.m. CT on August 31, and USDA will announce contract awards by September 14. Deliveries are scheduled between November 1...
Full Story »PODCAST: Ep. 44 - Iran 'Impasse' & US Feed Additive Supply Challenges, Feat. A. Woods & G. Potter
Join host, Expana Managing Editor - EMEA Simon Duke, on Agri-food for Thought as he explores the forces shaping agricultural markets with two expert guests offering deep market insights.
This week's episode kicks off with a news roundup covering significant regulatory changes, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain disruptions. The FDA has proposed mandatory notification requirements for food additives and feed ingredients as part of efforts to increase food supply transparency. Meanwhile, escalating Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian Black Sea ports
Full Story »NOAA Scientists Find Pacific Capelin Can Spawn Multiple Times, Upending Assumptions About Key Forage
New research from NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center has found the first evidence that Pacific capelin are capable of repeat spawning — a discovery that could meaningfully change how scientists assess the population resilience of one of the most ecologically important forage fish in Alaska's marine ecosystem.
Capelin were previously understood to follow a pattern similar to Pacific salmon: spawning once and dying. The new study, published August 12, found that many Pacific capelin can in fact spawn in multiple seasons (iteroparity), suggesting the species may be...
Full Story »Ecuador Shrimp Sector Faces Mounting Losses as Metabisulfite Dispute With China Drags On
Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) says it has secured a commitment from Chinese authorities for technical-level dialogue to address ongoing restrictions on Ecuadorian shrimp exporters, offering a cautious sign of progress in a dispute that has cost the sector tens of millions of dollars since late June.
The CNA posted an August 7 update on its website noting that Ecuador's government and industry have been coordinating to respond to observations from China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) related to sodium metabisulfite — a widely used preservative...
Full Story »ASMI Welcomes Jeff Welbourn to Board of Directors
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has appointed Jeff Welbourn, president of Trident USA, to its Board of Directors, adding a seasoned seafood executive with deep, end-to-end experience in Alaska’s seafood sector.
Welbourn leads Trident Seafoods’ North America and Latin America businesses and oversees a wide portfolio that includes value-added operations, domestic sales, commercial strategy, R&D, product management and sales operations. In the role, he works across harvesting, processing, sales and operations with a focus on sustainable growth and valu...
Full Story »BioMar's Q2 Revenue Rises 4.8%
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Today, BioMar released its first quarterly report as a publicly listed company. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and raw material supply challenges, the company reports volume growth of 5% compared with the year-to-date period last year.
While the feed business continues to perform strongly, the overall first-half results were partly impacted, as expected and planned, by transformation costs related to the strategic development of the technology business towards more direct sales and recurring revenue. In parallel, the recently completed IPO implied higher cost during the period.
Full Story »Chile’s Sernapesca Seizes Nearly 540 Pounds of Undocumented Seafood in Maule Road Checks
Sernapesca Maule, and Chile’s Carabineros, carried out regionwide road checks in Chanco, Cauquenes and Lomas Las Tortillas that ended with the seizure of 245 kilograms (about 540 lb) of hydrobiological resources lacking an Accreditation of Legal Origin (AOL).
Officials first intercepted a vehicle in the Margarita sector of Chanco carrying 54.3 kg (120 lb) of red conger eel and 35.5 kg (78 lb) of black conger eel without documentation. In Cauquenes, inspectors found 57 kg (126 lb) of horse...
Full Story »Fishwife Partners With Sweetgreen for First National Restaurant Menu Launch
Tinned seafood brand Fishwife is partnering with Sweetgreen on its latest retail and foodservice collaboration, bringing the brand to a national restaurant menu for the first time.
Sweetgreen announced the partnership Tuesday with the launch of Sweetgreen X Fishwife Summer Niçoise, a limited-time offering running Aug. 11 through Aug. 24. The Niçoise-inspired salad features a custom co-branded tin of Fishwife Albacore Tuna with Spanish Lemon, which guests open and add to the salad themselves.
“Our mission with Fishwife is to bring high-quality...
Full Story »Shan Distribution Recalls More than 5,000 Pounds of Breaded Swai Products
Shan Distribution is recalling 5,084 pounds of breaded swai fish fillet and fish stick products after regulators found the items were produced in the United Arab Emirates, a country not eligible to export Siluriformes fish to the United States.
According to the notice, the affected products were produced in December 2025, carry a “use before” date of June 2027, and do not bear a USDA mark of inspection.
The recalled items were distributed to retail locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa...
Full Story »Taylor Farms Recalls Products Containing Jalapeños Over Salmonella Risk
Taylor Fresh Foods, whose products are sold under the Taylor Farms brand, is recalling a range of prepared foods containing fresh jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors, which recalled the peppers over concerns about possible Salmonella contamination.
The Taylor Farms recall affects dips, salsas, prepared sandwiches and salads distributed to retailers including Whole Foods, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Target, Stop & Shop, Kroger and Hannaford stores across the United States.
Among the 20 recalled products is Trader Joe’s Fiesta Style Salad with Shrimp, sold in 11.11-ounce packages. The affected...
Full Story »Salmon Harvest Levels Inch Up in Early August But Missed Forecasts Are the Concern
Bristol Bay sockeye landings have reached 29.75 million salmon, still shy of the pre-season forecast of 32.2 million.
Statewide chum salmon (keta) landings are down 61% from 2025, at 7.35 million fish.
Statewide pink salmon harvests stand at 10.65 million — comprised of 4.5 million from Southeast Alaska, where the pre-season forecast called for 19 million; just 500,000 from Southcentral (Prince William Sound's modest prediction remains significantly above current landings); and over 5.5 million from the Western Region, mostly from...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: Chilean Salmon Exports Climb 20.7% YTD Despite Harvest Slowdown in June
Chilean Atlantic salmon harvest trends indicate a strong overall performance. According to SUBPESCA, accumulated harvest volumes from January to June were 7.85% higher year-to-date *YTD) at 376,385 metric tons (mt) (Figure 1). However, a slowdown has more recently been observed, with June harvest levels reaching 57,017 mt — a decrease of 7.89% month-on-month (MOM) and 15.72% year-on-year (YOY). According to market participants, this positive harvest momentum may not be sustained, as current live biomass is unlikely to support harvest levels above those recorded...
Full Story »Climate Resilience Critical to US Seafood Growth, Study Finds
Expanding US seafood production will require greater resilience to climate-driven disruptions, according to a new University of Miami study.
Published July 6 in Fish and Fisheries, the study uses Gulf Coast fisheries to examine how hurricanes can disrupt seafood harvests, infrastructure and supply chains. The researchers say the same risks apply to other climate-related threats, including marine heatwaves and harmful algal blooms.
"For fisheries, competitiveness isn't just about producing more seafood—it's about producing it consistently," said Juan Carlos Villaseñor-Derbez...
Full Story »Guangdong Haid Malaysian Subsidiary Breaks Ground on Aquaculture Feed Plant
Sheng Long Aqua Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Guangdong Haid Group Co. of China, has held a ground-breaking ceremony for its first aquaculture feed manufacturing facility in Malaysia.
The facility, scheduled to commence operations in 2028, represents a first-phase investment of approximately RM140 million (approximately $34.2 million) and will feature two shrimp feed production lines and two fish feed production lines with annual production capacity of 150,000 MT, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority said.
Mr. Chuang Jie Cheng
Full Story »C.P. Vietnam Opens New Shrimp Feed Mill
C.P. Vietnam inaugurated its fourth aquafeed production facility in Ca Mau on August 7, 2026, expanding its total annual shrimp feed capacity to more than 650,000 tons, the company announced.
The Ca Mau factory represents a VND 1.725 trillion (approximately $68 million) investment and sits on an 18-hectare site in Khanh An Industrial Park, Khanh An Commune.
The facility produces 124,800 tons annually, specializing in premium shrimp feed lines including Blanca, CP, Hi-Po, Hi-Gro, Lotus, and Nasa.
The company noted that these
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Trump Ends NOAA Funding for Annual Arctic Report Card, But Says Data Will Still Be Collected
The Trump administration has announced it is withdrawing federal support for the Arctic Report Card at a time when the Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth.
Kim Doster, communications director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issued a statement saying the agency would no longer coordinate the annual report, without explaining the decision. "Coordination of the 2026 Arctic Report Card will not be facilitated through NOAA," Doster told the New York Times...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: Canada H1 Lobster Export Volumes Decline Amid Tight Supply
According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, overall lobster export volumes from Canada to the rest of the world declined year‑on‑year (YOY) in the first half of the year. Total exports amounted to 37,428 MT between January and June, 5.6% below the same period last year. This total includes four HS codes describing frozen, live and preserved Homarus Americanus lobster. By value, the decline was smaller: year‑to‑date export receipts reached 1.38 million CAD, a 2.7% slip YOY.
Seasonal timing and weather...
Full Story »Founder, Management Team and Industrial Investors Acquire Norway’s First Seafood from Insula
Norway’s First Seafood is shifting into a new ownership chapter after a decade with Insula AS as its majority shareholder. Founder Andreas Sundnes, the company’s executive management team, and a group of industrial investors have acquired ownership of First Seafood, according to a company release.
"Together, we have built an international seafood company with skilled employees, modern production facilities, strong customer relationships, and a broad market position," the company said. The new ownership group added that it is taking over "with great...
Full Story »Russia Increases Total Allowable Catch of Kamchatka Crab in Barents Sea
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Russia has increased the total allowable catch (TAC) of Kamchatka crab in the Barents Sea for the current year, while also expanding scientific survey work on the species.
Under a recent order from the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, the TAC was raised from 12,690 MT to 13,960 MT — an increase of roughly 10%. Most of the catch is expected to be directed toward export markets, with China identified as the priority destination.
This month, Russian fisheries scientists launched a comprehensive trawl survey of Kamchatka crab in the Barents Sea...
Full Story »Canada, US Shadow Chinese Snow Dragon Research Vessels in Alaskan Arctic
Late last month a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance plane joined American Coast Guard and Army personnel shadowing two Chinese research vessels Xue Long and Xue Long 2 as they transited the northern Bering Sea. It was the first time this year that China’s well-equipped research vessels, known as Snow Dragon and Snow Dragon 2, entered the area.
Defense and monitoring capabilities are ramping up in both countries as awareness...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Imports Beat June Forecast; July Could Approach 2021 Volume Levels
June official US shrimp imports came in at 164.2 million lbs, above Expana's model midpoint of 158.5 million lbs and within the upper range. Most product forms tracked close to the estimate. The exception was peeled, which at 86.6 million lbs came in above the upper bound of 83.2 million lbs. The most likely explanation is timing — Ecuador running peeling lines at capacity combined with India purchasing decisions, delayed earlier in the year by tariff and seasonal constraints, clearing customs in June. Check out Expana's full breakdown of June imports here.
Full Story »Norwegian Cod Farmer Ode Becomes World's First Producer of ASC-Certified Farmed Cod
Norwegian cod farming company Ode has become the world's first producer of ASC-certified farmed cod, the company announced August 7 — coming just one week after it became the first major cod farmer in history to deliver a profitable full year.
The certification was awarded under the ASC Salmon and Cod Standard v1.5, which ASC introduced in 2025 when it formally opened Atlantic cod for certification following a stakeholder consultation. Ode is the first company to have completed a full audit and received a certificate under the...
Full Story »Canada Offers $40,000 Buyout to Wild Oyster Harvesters as MSX, Dermo Spread Through Atlantic Stocks
The Canadian government has launched a voluntary license retirement program for wild oyster harvesters in Atlantic Canada, offering $40,000 per license in exchange for permanent exit from the fishery as two devastating diseases continue to spread through oyster populations.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced the Oyster License Retirement Grant Program on August 10 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. The program targets harvesters in PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick who are most heavily dependent on wild oyster harvesting...
Full Story »SSP Adds Three New Associate Members
The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) has welcomed three new Associate Members: Aker QRILL Company, EDISA, and MILANPLASTIC. This move expands SSP's network of companies working to support sustainability and responsible shrimp production.
SSP said the new members bring expertise in aquaculture nutrition, digital traceability and food packaging, strengthening collaboration across the shrimp value chain.
"We are pleased to welcome Aker QRILL Company, EDISA, and MILANPLASTIC to SSP," said Pamela Nath, Director of SSP. "The incorporation of new Associate Members allows us to bring together additional capabilities, experience, and new perspectives to continue...
Full Story »Les Hodges: The Market Has the Crab. Now It Needs the Buyers.
The global crab market has moved from concern over supply availability to the more difficult question of demand. Strong Canadian snow crab shipments have substantially improved U.S. availability, while recovering Alaska resources and increased availability of Santolla from Argentina and Chile have changed the supply outlook. Norway remains constrained by its sharply reduced red king crab quota, while sanctions continue to exclude Russian crab from the U.S. market. The question for the second half of 2026 is increasingly not whether crab is available, but whether demand is strong...
Full Story »Senate Agriculture Committee Adds Seafood Labeling Overhaul to Farm Bill
A Senate committee has advanced legislation that would require more prominent country-of-origin and harvest method disclosures on seafood sold in US grocery stores, folding the measure into the broader Farm Bill now moving through Congress.
The Senate Agriculture Committee adopted an amendment from Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) during an August 6 markup of the Agricultural Act of 2026 — commonly referred to as Farm Bill 2.0. The amendment is based on the bipartisan LABEL Act (S. 3065)...
Full Story »National Fisheries Institute Statement on the Passing of Lee Weddig
Reston, VA – August 10, 2026– The seafood community has lost a giant. Lee Weddig ran the National Fisheries Institute for three decades, retiring in 1997. Trade press referred to him as the “Godfather of NFI” and his tenure was marked by a steadfast focus on the future. During a fiftieth anniversary celebration, Weddig did not rest on the association’s accomplishments but rather insisted it was, “imperative that the NFI build on its technological and political capabilities because the questions [were] getting more complicated and more difficult with the passing years...
Full Story »ASMI, Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska Partner to Put Brain Health on the Seafood Menu
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is partnering with Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska to bring science-based nutrition information about seafood and brain health to Alaskans. The collaboration connects Alaska’s wild seafood resource with trusted health and wellness organizations to reinforce a single, practical message for consumers: growing research shows that regularly eating wild Alaska seafood can support long-term brain health.
One of the first public examples of the partnership is an article by Alzheimer’s Resource Alaska CEO Lisa Sauder, “Caring for...
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