San Diego, California-based Ocean Garden Products (OGP) is teaming up with Guolian Aquatic Products to promote sales of Calmex brand frozen shrimp and other seafood in the China market. The partnership gives Zhanjiang, Guangdong-headquartered Guolian exclusive rights to market OGP products in the PRC, while providing “leadership and dedicated resources to ensure success,” according to a press released issued jointly by the companies.
“We believe that developing seafood brands like Calmex within China will be our point of differentiation as the practice of importing products evolves. We also plan on developing products specific for the e-commerce channel, which is growing and in need of quality branded seafood items,” said Ocean Garden President Lance Leonard.
OGP’s signature items are premium-grade wild caught and farm raised Mexican white shrimp distributed under the Ocean Garden label, as well as wild brown shrimp packed under the Compass brand, and Ocean Shell label standard grade shrimp. Non-shrimp items in its portfolio include Storm Norwegian salmon, Calmex Mexican and Australian canned abalone, and calamari.
“We see a tremendous opportunity to develop our brands with the Chinese consumer. Today, much of the seafood that comes into the marketplace arrives as a commodity with low consumer awareness. Guolian brings a developed infrastructure and customer base that will value the availability of high-quality seafood in brands that delight,” stated Jim Charters, Ocean Garden’s national sales manager.
Guolian Aquatic Products, which generated sales of more than US $631 million last year, is ranked as China’s biggest shrimp exporter and producer of tilapia. It also produces and markets prawn balls, golden pompano, deep skinned and skin-on fish fillets. Founded in 2001, the company is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
