Fisherman's Express is a primary processor of Alaska seafood. They direct market their products to consumers and small restaurants almost exclusively via the internet. Cade Smith, owner of Fisherman's Express, has built his business to integrate the best of technology and Alaska's seafood to create a real-time solution for consumers that goes beyond the conventional web-based storefront.

Lynden International and Kerry Logistics recently announced their new joint venture agreement to provide logistics and forwarding services through a Seattle-based joint venture company, Kerry-Lynden.  The new service network, which includes Europe and India, quadruples the number of Lynden-Kerry offices and offers customers global coverage.

The 10 Trends I see ... in '07

The fun thing about making predictions is it will take a full year for you guys to figure out how right or wrong I was, and I'm betting you'll forget everything I'm about to write here. Like when I make a futurist presentation to a group, I always predict things so far off, that I'm positive I'll be dead when it does or doesn't happen, and won't have to explain how I could be so-so wrong about the future. Hey, that's just how it is with predicting. Like, we don't really know for sure, do we? That said, it's time for my annual look-see at the new year ahead...

1 'Medicinal' Foods & Beverages Ratchet Up
2007 will be the year when the whole 'medicinal foods' trend starts to pick up steam. Up till now, we've seen little snippets of it, but before the year is out we'll see 'functional' ... 'medicinal' ... 'medifood' ... whatever you want to call it, reach across nearly all important food and beverage categories, e.g., packaged meals and entrees with ingredients designed to build up the immune system. In fact, I think the 'immune system' will be front and center and 'hot' as a wellness issue this year.

2 All Things Locally Grown
The power of locally-grown foods has really taken hold. But it is also as low as you can go in the food distribution chain. Which is why I see 'food safety concerns' at that level becoming more of an issue in '07 ... Major and mid-size food processors will always be on the radar screen of fed agencies and food activists, but the local farmer with a selling niche in his small part of the world is not nearly as visible. This will concern people as the year evolves, especially if foodborne illness issues spring up.

3 One Bite at a Time
Bite-size is back, although it should've never gone away. In a society where issues of health and weight consume its citizens, bite-size looms as a way to better manage what and when we eat. One of these days, the healthy eating message will resonate with strength in this country and then portion control options are going to take center stage. That's why I see more bite-size opportunities from marketers coming in 2007. It's what Americans want, and they will get it. Whether they gorge themselves on bite-size foods is a whole other issue - but they want it!