Riverside Lobster Clawing Up Expansion Plans
News Release
Colin Fraser, Member of Parliament for West Nova, today announced a Government of Canada investment of $1,000,000 in Riverside Lobster International Inc. The re-payable contribution supports the acquisition of specialized equipment that will enable the lobster processor to expand its presence across Canada and the United States, as well as in European and Asian markets.
The contribution comes through Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s (ACOA) Business Development Program (BDP), and supports the purchase of a high pressure processing machine, commonly called a Hiperbaric or HPP, to improve lobster meat extraction. Additionally, the company will purchase a continuous steam cooker, commonly called a Laitram. The new cooker will require less fuel to operate, therefore lowering usage costs and increasing yields.
The new equipment will allow Riverside to expand the value-added elements of its business offerings. As a quality-control measure, the company currently removes soft-shell lobsters from its live lobster shipments. This includes cracked and one- or no-clawed-lobsters. Using the HPP and Laitram to extract and cook meat from these lobsters, Riverside will be able to meet the market’s steady demand for raw and cooked lobster products. In addition, the new equipment will allow the company to offer a solution to other processors and fishermen looking to find a customer for their soft-shell lobster.
Quotes:
“In order to grow a strong and sustainable economy in Atlantic Canada, we must focus on encouraging small- and medium-sized businesses to innovate, pursue the commercialization of home-based ideas, and spur value-added opportunities. Through the Atlantic Growth Strategy, we are focusing our efforts and resources to stimulate the region’s economy and build on Atlantic Canada’s competitive advantages.”
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
“Lobster fishing in Atlantic Canada is an important part of our heritage. The significance that this industry has on our economy reverberates throughout the province. After all, lobster is Canada’s most valuable seafood export—representing as much as $1 billion in export sales annually. We’re very pleased to be supporting a company that is thriving right here in Nova Scotia.”
- Colin Fraser, Member of Parliament for West Nova
“Here at Riverside Lobster we value our customers and work diligently to provide them with superior products. The equipment we are introducing into our facility will allow us to produce a variety of high quality products that new and existing customers are sure to enjoy.”
- David Deveau, Owner, Riverside Lobster International Inc.
Associated Links:
Contacts:
Alex Smith
Director of Communications and Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(902) 426-9417
(902) 830-3839 (cell)
Email: alex.smith@canada.ca
David Deveau
Owner
Riverside Lobster International Inc.
(902) 769-3340
Email: david@riversidelobster.ca
Background
Riverside Lobster International Inc., is a live lobster exporter with its head office in Meteghan River, Nova Scotia. The company is situated on the shores of St. Mary’s Bay—an area known for its black, hard shell, quality live lobster (homarus americanus). Riverside processes lobster into value-added raw and cooked lobster products at its processing facility in Meteghan Centre and ships to countries including the United States, Europe and Asia.
The company handles approximately 12 million pounds annually, sourced from 40 local fishermen along with other live lobster companies from across the region.
This project will assist Riverside with the purchase of specialized equipment, including a high pressure processing machine and a steam cooker. This equipment will enable the company to modernize and expand its processing facility and increase product yields while reducing costs.
Specifically, Riverside Lobster International will purchase a Hiperbaric and a Laitram:
- A Hiperbaric is a high pressure processing system from Hiperbaric Spain. The system will improve lobster meat extraction by separating much more of the meat from the shell—resulting in higher yields. It will also lower labor costs as current methods of extraction are labor intensive.
- A Laitram is a steam cooker from Laitram Machinery. It is a continuous steam cooker as opposed to the company’s previous batch cooker, which cooked lobster in water and ran at a much higher temperature. The new cooker will require less fuel to operate; therefore, lowering usage costs and increasing yields.
In the last three years, the company has quadrupled revenues. With this project and a processing facility expansion that is currently underway, the company is expanding once again.
Products processed at the company’s Meteghan Centre facility can be found in over 10,000 stores across North America, and are packaged for use by retail distributors such as Costco, Kroger and Sysco.
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Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Economics and Industry
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