Luke’s Lobster in National Deal with Whole Foods

Josh Miller, president of THFC, aboard his boat. “This partnership has made a considerable difference in our bottom line,” said THFC Treasurer and fisherman John Tripp.

Press Release TENANTS HARBOR, ME; ISLEFORD, ME (December 5, 2018) – In November, Luke’s Lobster officially launched retail lobster products in Whole Foods Market nationally, advancing its partnership with fishermen and returning a percentage of sales proceeds to participating fishermen. The launch of the retail products (Luke’s ready-to-eat lobster kit and Luke’s ready-to-cook lobster tail kit) furthers a partnership Luke’s forged with the Tenants Harbor Fisherman’s Co-op and the Cranberry Isles Fishermen’s Co-op.

The process began in 2016, shortly after the founding of the innovative Tenants Harbor Fisherman’s Co-op (THFC), a vertically integrated co-op launched by fishermen in Tenants Harbor and Luke Holden. Fishermen from the THFC, which sells all its product to Luke’s, participated in an audit with Whole Foods Market, to ensure the lobster handling practices of its fishermen met Whole Foods Market’s high standards. Criteria included ensuring lobsters are on a truck within 24 hours of being caught and one hand per one lobster handling. Whole Foods Market representatives accompanied fishermen out to haul and completed audits at its buying station. With fishermen from the THFC qualified, Luke’s Seafood Co. began selling frozen lobster tails to Whole Foods Market stores, returning an excellent per pound price to the THFC fishermen for all lobster sold to Whole Foods Market.

“This partnership has made a considerable difference in our bottom line,” said THFC Treasurer and fisherman John Tripp. “When we looked at our numbers at the end of the year, the Whole Foods Market partnership through Luke’s made a difference in what we were able to return to our fishermen-members in terms of a dividend. This is a bright spot for us as an industry as we face potential bait challenges in the coming years.”

These initial sales to Whole Foods Market proved to be the first step for Luke’s and its partnership with fishermen. In 2017, the fishermen of the Cranberry Isles Fishermen’s Co-op also became Whole Foods Market certified through Luke’s. With these audits complete, and two co-ops participating in sales to Whole Foods Market, the next logical step was retail products to serve a larger market. “The launch of these retail products, and returning a percent of sales back to our fishermen, is exactly the way we like to do business,” said Luke Holden, Founder of Luke’s Lobster, who hails from Cape Elizabeth and hails from a fishing family himself. “We actively look for win-win opportunities like this. With this partnership, fishermen win, and Whole Food Market’s customers win.”

Collaborating directly with fishermen through open communication is key to these partnerships. “We actively engage with our fishermen, trying to find innovative ways to create more value at the shore,” said Holden. “If a fisherman has an idea about how the process can be improved, we are always keen to listen. Right now, we’re looking at how to reduce product shrinkage below industry standards. If we can do that through exceptional handling, our fishermen deserve a piece of what we save,” said Holden.

“This has been a great partnership for us,” said Bruce Fernald, fisherman and President of the Cranberry Isles Fishermen’s Co-op. “It makes a difference who you sell your lobsters to. Collaborating with Luke’s has been great for us from a financial standpoint, but also from the standpoint of knowing where our lobsters are going. It’s nice to have that kind of relationship with your buyer.”

Luke’s seeks to expand its partnerships with fishermen up and down the coast. “I hope in the years to come we can continue building these relationships,” said Holden. “Of everything I do, working with fishermen and trying to return more value to the shore is what’s most meaningful to me.”

For press inquiries, please contact Merritt Carey at merritt@lukeslobster.com or 207-828-4882.

About the Tenants Harbor Fisherman’s Co-op

The Tenants Harbor Fisherman’s Co-op is comprised of more than 20 members, including student members. Lobsters caught by the Co-op are caught from all over Penobscot Bay, reflective of the different territory each member fishes. Fishing grounds include the waters off Matinicus Island and Green Island.

The Co-op was founded in spring of 2016 and operates off of a small, family-owned wharf in Tenants Harbor, Maine. In partnership with Luke’s Lobster the Tenants Harbor Fisherman’s Co-op is the only fisherman’s Co-op in Maine to have a representative of a restaurant group and a processor on its board. The Co-op works collaboratively with Luke’s to bring sustainably sourced lobsters to Luke’s Lobster customers around the world.

The wharf, which is home to the first Luke’s Lobster shack in Maine, is owned by the four Miller brothers, all of whom are fishermen and members of the Co-op. The wharf has been in the Miller family since the early 70s and is protected through Maine’s Working Waterfront Access Protection Program ensuring it will always remain a commercial fishing wharf.

About Cranberry Isles Fishermen’s Co-op

Located on Little Cranberry Isle, at the top of Penobscot Bay, the Cranberry Isles Fisherman’s Co-op was founded in 1978 and boasts more than 25 boats. In addition to its partnership with Luke’s the Co-op is part of Little Cranberry Lobster, a retail operation selling lobsters directly to consumers, live and cooked.

About Luke’s Lobster

Luke’s Lobster is a restaurant group dedicated to traceability, sustainability and providing guests with delicious, fresh seafood. Luke’s Seafood Co., its processing facility based in Saco, Maine, buys lobster and crab directly from fishermen, and works collaboratively with them to return more value to the shore. In 2018, Luke’s became a certified B Corporation®, memorializing its long-standing commitment to sustainability.

Founder Luke Holden sits on the board of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, the Island Institute, and the Tenants Harbor Fisherman’s Co-op, which he helped found. Luke’s donates a portion of its proceeds to The Ocean Foundation and the Island Institute, helping preserve Maine’s fishing communities and the sustainability of our oceans.