Exhibiting at Seafood Expo North America 2025

Walcan Seafood Ltd., based in Heriot Bay, British Columbia, Canada, is a prominent seafood processor and distributor with over four decades of experience in sustainable seafood handling. Strategically located on Quadra Island, near rich Pacific coastal fishing grounds, Walcan has established itself as a trusted supplier of premium wild-caught seafood to domestic and international markets.

Core Business and Product Portfolio

Walcan specializes in the processing, packaging, and distribution of wild Pacific seafood, offering a diverse product lineup that includes:

• Salmon:

  • Wild Sockeye Salmon
  • Chum Salmon
  • Pink Salmon

• Other Seafood:

  • Herring
  • Herring Roe
  • Wild-caught British Columbia Spot Prawns

• Value-Added Products:

  • Ready-to-eat Smoked Salmon in shelf-stable retort pouches
  • Specialty retail seafood products under proprietary brands

Walcan serves both wholesale and retail markets, offering bulk frozen formats for distributors and portion-packed premium seafood for consumer-facing brands.

Specialization and Core USP

Walcan’s unique value proposition lies in its commitment to:

• Sustainable fisheries: Partnering with local fishers and indigenous communities using traditional and environmentally friendly practices.
• High-quality handling: Rapid chilling, custom processing, and flash-freezing to preserve freshness and texture.
• Value-added innovation: Development of shelf-stable smoked seafood products for specialty food markets, with a strong focus on product convenience and artisanal flavor profiles.

Their capabilities in retort pouch processing set them apart as one of the few processors in Canada offering this high-margin, ready-to-eat seafood format, which is shelf-stable without refrigeration.

Certifications and Compliance

Walcan operates under stringent quality and food safety standards to ensure consistent product integrity and compliance for export markets. Certifications and operational standards include:

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) certified plant
• HACCP-compliant operations
• FDA-registered for U.S. exports
• Compliance with Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR)

These certifications enable the company to export to premium markets in North America and Asia while maintaining full traceability and quality assurance throughout its supply chain.

Market Reach and Export Activity

Walcan Seafood Ltd. has built robust trade relationships across:

• Canada – retail chains, gourmet stores, and bait markets
• United States – particularly the Pacific Northwest and California
• Asia – notably Japan and South Korea for herring roe and spot prawns

Export and trade data indicate:

• Annual processing volume exceeding 5,000 metric tons of wild seafood
• Strong seasonal export spikes during sockeye salmon and spot prawn harvest periods
• Specialty product exports to Asia’s high-end gift and gourmet food sectors

Their proprietary value-added products are particularly well-received in Japan’s omiyage (gift food) market, where quality and presentation are critical.

Infrastructure and Capabilities

Operating from a well-equipped processing facility on Quadra Island, Walcan boasts:

• Full-scale processing and filleting lines for multiple species
• Blast freezing and cold storage facilities to maintain cold chain integrity
• Custom packaging capabilities for private label and co-packing
• In-house R&D for product development and testing
• Logistics and fulfillment services including e-commerce order handling and seafood subscription box preparation

The company also operates under its own logistics arm to manage distribution and streamline delivery to wholesalers, retailers, and end consumers.

Brand Portfolio

Walcan operates and manages several brands serving different segments:

• SeaChange – Premium consumer brand offering gourmet smoked salmon and seafood gift boxes
• Tom Brown Sport Bait – Supplier of sport fishing bait products
• Rhys Davis – Known for fishing gear and bait preparation accessories

This brand architecture allows Walcan to serve both food and recreational fishing industries, diversifying its customer base and revenue streams.

Financial and Operational Insights

As a private company, Walcan does not disclose financials, but trade estimates and processing capacity suggest:

• Estimated annual revenue in the range of CAD 25–40 million
• 30% of revenue from value-added and shelf-stable products
• Significant investments in automation and packaging technologies over the past 5 years to meet rising consumer demand

The company’s growth has been bolstered by the premiumization trend in seafood and increased demand for wild-caught, traceable, and ready-to-eat products.

Community and Sustainability

Walcan is deeply integrated with the local community and works closely with:

• Local Indigenous fishing communities
• Regional fisheries associations to support responsible resource management
• Sustainability programs aligned with Ocean Wise and Fisheries Council of Canada best practices

The company emphasizes waste minimization, responsible sourcing, and efficient resource utilization in all stages of processing and distribution.

Recognition and Industry Engagement

Walcan Seafood has been featured in:

• SeafoodSource and Canadian Grocer for its innovative seafood products
• Industry showcases and culinary expos across North America
• Recognized by gourmet retailers and tourism operators for its gift-ready seafood products

Their SeaChange brand is a favorite among gift shops and gourmet food stores across Canada, often featured in holiday gift guides and culinary gift baskets.

Summary

Walcan Seafood Ltd. exemplifies a modern seafood company rooted in tradition, quality, and innovation. With sustainable sourcing, a vertically integrated processing model, and a growing portfolio of high-value products, Walcan has carved a strong niche in both the bulk seafood and gourmet retail segments. Its commitment to community, traceability, and product excellence ensures it remains a preferred partner in the evolving global seafood supply chain.