Comeau's, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, is a leader in the harvesting, processing and global distribution of fish and seafood products in Nova Scotia.
Foto: Comeau's Sea Foods.
Nova Scotia-based Comeau's Sea Foods announced that it has reached an agreement to be acquired by Mersey Seafoods, also based in Nova Scotia, with which it said it shares values, deep roots in coastal communities, and a relationship that spans 50 years.
Founded in 1946, Comeau's is a leader in the harvesting, processing and global distribution of fish and seafood products, including fresh goods such as scallops, herring, herring meal and oil. It also processes a full line of quality frozen products, and its value-added product lines include, among others, smoked salmon, smoked mackerel, salt fish, breaded scallops, seafood spreads, seafood chowders and ready-to-eat items.
Headquartered in Saulnierville, NS, Comeau's Sea Foods is not only a mainstay in the Canadian seafood industry but also offers services including industrial-grade metal fabrication, machining, ship repair and maintenance, and the Nova West Laboratory.
Mersey Seafoods, for its part, was founded in 1964 in Liverpool, NS, and is currently one of Nova Scotia's largest privately owned seafood companies, exporting to international markets around the world.
Owner of a fleet of four large fishing vessels harvesting northern shrimp, offshore scallops and groundfish; with a modern scallop processing facility in Liverpool, NS, and a cold storage facility in Country Harbour, NS; it also owns two ship repair businesses, Mersey Marine Limited (formerly STENPRO), located in Liverpool, NS, and Shelburne Ship Repair.
As it explains on its LinkedIn profile, in 2019, Mersey acquired an interest in Scotia Harvest Inc., a vertically integrated seafood company based in Digby, NS, with a fleet of vessels fishing scallops and groundfish and a state-of-the-art 46,000 sq. ft processing facility completed in 2021.
That same year, it acquired 75% ownership in Fisherman's Market International Inc., a long-standing Halifax-based retailer, wholesaler, and exporter of fresh, frozen, smoked, and salted seafood, as well as live and frozen Atlantic lobster. The acquisition of Comeau's Sea Foods will further expand its portfolio in Atlantic Canada.
Although the transaction is still subject to standard closing conditions and pending regulatory approvals, in its announcement, Comeau's Sea Foods stated that there will be no immediate changes to day-to-day operations, that it will continue to operate from its locations in southwestern Nova Scotia, and that the Comeau name will remain part of the business.
Founded, as mentioned, 80 years ago, Comeau's Sea Foods has deep roots in the Acadian community of Clare—the Acadian community descends from French settlers who established themselves in eastern Canada in the 17th and 18th centuries, maintaining a unique Francophone identity—and has long been a major employer and contributor to the seafood industry in southwestern Nova Scotia.
"Comeau's has always been guided by a strong sense of responsibility to its employees, customers, and community, and this decision reflects careful long-term planning for the company's future while keeping it rooted in Saulnierville," the company said in its statement.
The company went on to say that it is aware the news may raise questions and pledged to be clear and straightforward throughout the transition. It also said it would share further updates as confirmed information becomes available.
"The strength of Comeau's Sea Foods has always come from its people, and that remains true as we move into this next chapter," the Saulnierville-based seafood company concluded.
