Lobster Industry Leader Announces Strategic Plans to Support Growth

East Coast Seafood Group

PRESS RELEASE, Topsfield, MA, January 16, 2019—In a plan to strengthen operations with renewed investments in the organization’s infrastructure, East Coast Seafood Group has announced the relocation of its live lobster packing facilities in Groton, CT effective January 17th. The company is offering positions at other subsidiary locations where possible, absorbing benefit costs of covered employees for a period of time, offering severance to each employee affected, and providing recommendation letters and other support requested by employees during their transition. The company’s first priority is the employees affected by the consolidation and providing them the support they need as they move to alternative employment opportunities.

The impending consolidation is the result of years of careful planning and the next step in a unique industry partnership between East Coast Seafood and Garbo Lobster. The lobster companies aligned in 2012 with their acquisition of a 100,000 sq. foot facility in Prospect Harbor, Maine which facilitated the return of substantial lobster processing back to the region. To date, the partnership has created hundreds of additional jobs in the local communities and across the lobster industry.

Growth plans for the company include substantial new investments to the Prospect Harbor, Maine facility to increase production capacity, optimize the production process, and enhance labor needs. By strategically enhancing a facility that is geographically located in the heart of the resource, the company is recognizing greater efficiencies and creating value for all stakeholders. The expansion in Maine and additional investments in the Massachusetts operation will enhance East Coast Seafood Group’s entire operational model and is forecasted to increase workforces across the company’s subsidiaries.

Most of the work being carried out at the Groton operation will be absorbed into the Prospect Harbor, Maine location, with the remainder shifting to the company’s new state-of-the-art lobster processing line in New Bedford, MA. The newly expanded facility and processing equipment is one of the most advanced processing lines in the industry. The new processing line will create over one hundred jobs for the city of New Bedford.

“The company is dedicated to making a positive impact for the people that live and work along the coast and is proud to have created meaningful employment in rural communities throughout North America. We thank the hardworking employees at the Groton facility and the Groton community for the support over the many years, said Brad Hudson, CEO of East Coast Seafood Group. “Our commitment remains steadfast with the knowledge that our customers rely on us to bring smart innovations to their table. This has always been our culture and we’ve worked hard to put a successful plan in place for 2019 and many years to come. Evolution is a crucial part of sustaining strong partnerships, for today and the future.”

Contact: media@myseafood.com