August has been good to Jeff Hazell. For one thing, the founder and president of Orlando-based Bar Harbor Lobster Co. Inc. has been reaping the benefits of lower prices on Maine lobster. Warmer waters in the northeast are breeding huge lobster populations, driving down wholesale prices.
But that’s a good thing for Bar Harbor, which distributes seafood to many of the area’s top restaurants and resorts and throughout the state. This month, Bar Harbor is on pace to sell about 200,000 pounds of live Maine lobsters, which is more than double what Hazell had forecast for August. Compared to a year ago, the firm’s revenue is up 35 percent because of the higher volume.
“Numerous restaurants have put lobsters on special because of the low prices,” said Hazell, adding that he’s been getting bigger orders from restaurants like Big Fin Seafood Kitchen, High Tide Harry’s, Fulton’s Crab House and Narcoossee’s restaurant at Walt Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. “We’re giving them a great price because we’re getting a great price.”
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