Trident Seafoods plans to keep its Kodiak processing facility operating through the groundfish “B” season, as negotiations continue with prospective buyers for that property and another facility at False Pass.
Trident CEO Joe Bundrant said May 30 that the company is currently in the midst of sale negotiations for the Kodiak facility, a process covered by a non-disclosure agreement.
“While we aren’t able to disclose more details at this time, we’re confident about the plant’s future and we’re looking forward to sharing more details as soon as possible,” he said.
The Kodiak plant is the largest and most complex of Trident’s shoreside facilities, with year-round operations supporting multiple species. The details of the Kodiak plant’s operations makes the sale of that plant a lengthier due diligence process, company officials said.
Trident remains the operator of the Kodiak facility while negotiations continue.
“We know how important the Kodiak Plant is to the community and the surrounding fisheries,” Jeff Welbourn, senior vice president of Trident’s Alaska operations, said. “The decision to continue operations through “B” season is tied directly to our commitment to ensuring the plant remains an important economic contributor to Kodiak and the surrounding community now and into the future.”
Trident announced last year that it was seeking buyers for four of its Alaska shoreside plants as part of a comprehensive, strategic restructuring and modernization initiative.
In April the company announced the sale of its Petersburg, Alaska plant to fish processor E.C. Phillips & Son and the purchase of its Ketchikan, Alaska plant by Silver Bay Seafoods.