Red Chamber buys processing plant
Ocean Pride’s North Lake processing plant has been purchased by Red Chamber Co, a seafood company ba…Ocean Pride’s North Lake processing plant has been purchased by Red Chamber Co, a seafood company based in Vernon, California and will open for the 2013 season.
North Lake Fisheries 2013 Inc will be operated by Jack Quinn and will run from May to October.
Mr Quinn, owner of Chestnut Ventures, was a former partner in Polar Foods and leased a financially struggling Mariner Seafood in Brudenell in 2010.
Jim Beals, a consultant with Red Chamber Co, who was in North Lake last week said details of how many people will work at the plant are still being finalized but workers are needed.
“The big thing is to let people know it will be operating and it’s been a quite a struggle to get it operating,” Mr Beals said.
Last spring, Ocean Pride leased the facility to North Lake Seafoods, which was owned by Barry Ansems of Whim Road. North Lake Seafoods went bankrupt in December, leaving about 120 people without jobs.
Mr Beals said the plant was purchased through a direct sale from Ocean Pride, based in Wedgeport, Nova Scotia.
“It is a long term company, it’s a very good strong company. It’s not short term,” Mr Beals said.
Minister of Fisheries Ron MacKinley said the provincial government gave no financial support to the plant’s new owners.
The Department of Fisheries said the company has not yet applied for a processing license, but there is still ample time.