“Due to restaurants shutting their doors, the local wholesale market demand dropped almost overnight,” said Jim Kostka, marketing director for Copper River Seafoods.
With the market shifting rapidly, Kostka quickly devised a plan that would move frozen portioned inventory while helping a lot of people who had suddenly lost their jobs.
“Since CRS had inventory that was destined to the local restaurants, we cut prices to respond to the local demand and give back to our community,” he said.
His plan began to take shape when the first three restaurant owners began to lay off staff, who then applied for unemployment. “We said ‘what can we do to make a difference in the community’?” Kostka said.
“What started with literally three texts to see how we could help various colleagues that lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic went viral in Anchorage,” he said. CRS put together 15-pound boxes at $5 a pound ($75 a box) of portioned frozen individually wrapped halibut.
Word went out on a Friday evening and soon his phone was in meltdown mode through the following Tuesday. By 10 a.m. Monday they had sold 2,600 pounds of halibut portions.
Provided with each box is a copy of the “How to spot the symptoms” federal document on the COVID-19 virus.
“The response was amazing and the thank yous are still coming in,” Kostka said. “I have several customers that have a hug on hold for me for when we get through this for the positive impact we have with our offering to our community. We will continue to offer a weekly 10-pound variety box of the best seafood in the world, as well as smoked and bulk orders, as a means to get healthy protein out to feed our Alaska neighbors and loved ones at bulk/wholesale prices and to keep our commercial fishing industry viable,” he said.
The weekly offerings will be posted online at www.alaskawildseafoodmarket.com, the company’s new ecommerce site, established specifically for bulk and wholesale prices.
Meanwhile, Kostka’s new mantra is “Let us help you make your home, your new favorite restaurant featuring wild Alaskan seafood!”