VANCOUVER – Kevin Ainsworth, CEO of Haida Enterprise Corporation (HaiCo) announced the acquisition of Seapak QCI Processing Limited of Massett through Haida Seapak Limited Partnership (HSLP).
Seapak was started by Debbie Beemer and Ray Stephens in 1995 and is one of Haida Gwaii's custom seafood processors for the sports fishing industry as well as providing specialized processing for locals and visitors. The plant currently employs up to 11 people at peak operations in the summer.
The modern, well-run facility includes a one acre property and a building with smoking/processing equipment in central Massett and has several contracts for processing salmon and groundfish for Haida Gwaii fishing lodges. As well as providing custom processing in a federally registered facility, the plant also sells fresh and frozen salmon, smoked salmon, halibut, razor clams, cod, crab, shrimp and prawns from wild sources into the local retail market.
Bob Brash, Vice President responsible for HaiCo's West Coast Resorts operations noted "this acquisition creates synergies for our own lodges and provides new opportunities for West Coast customers to get their catch processed locally. Processing on-islands will add new jobs on Haida Gwaii, a key HaiCo objective. As well, West Coast clients and others will now be able to purchase a range of high quality Seapak seafood products at our lodges, the Inn at Sandspit and Haida House at Tllaal".
Debbie and Ray have agreed to continue to operate and manage the business for HaiCo for at least a year. Existing employees will also continue working for the company.
The Seapak acquisition was organised through the Haida Fisheries program and supported by equity investment from the Secretariat of the Haida Nation along with external financing from the Tribal Resources Investment Corporation and the Bank of Montreal.
Mr. Ainsworth concluded, "the Seapak acquisition is part of HaiCo's strategic, long term goal of integrating and building local businesses and creating value added opportunities and new employment from sustainably harvested natural resources on Haida Gwaii".
Source: Haida Enterprise Corporation
