North Pacific Seafoods changes hands

North Pacific Seafoods, a major salmon processor in Alaska, has new ownership.

A June 23 filing with the Alaska Division of Corporations indicates the new owner is Kanaway Seafoods.

Kanaway does business as Alaska General Seafoods, which is part of the Canadian Fishing Co., better known as Canfisco. The parent company of Canfisco is the Jim Pattison Group, a diversified holding company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The previous owner of North Pacific Seafoods was Japanese titan Marubeni.

Dave Hambleton remains as president of North Pacific Seafoods, the June 23 filing shows.

Canfisco buys Bristol Bay processor Leader Creek

Here's the press release:

Dec. 1, 2010

Canadian Fishing Company (Canfisco) Buys Leader Creek Fisheries

Canadian Fishing Company (Canfisco), a privately owned seafood company of Vancouver, Canada is purchasing Seattle-based Leader Creek Fisheries, Alaska's leading producer of wild sockeye salmon fillets.

Canfisco has agreed to purchase Leader Creek Fisheries for an undisclosed price. The deal is subject to the successful completion of due diligence before closing in December.

Leader Creek Fisheries' founder, John Lowrance, started the company in 1999 and pioneered the production of fillets using Bristol Bay sockeye salmon. The Leader Creek Fisheries fleet employs special onboard techniques to produce premium quality salmon to ensure the company's reputation as Bristol Bay's top producer of sockeye salmon fillets. Lowrance will continue to lead the company and ensure a successful transition of ownership.

Dan Nomura, President of Canadian Fishing Company, said "We are excited to become the proud owner of Leader Creek Fisheries. Leader Creek is a successful company and we intend to continue operating the business in the same manner that has resulted in the company's accomplishments. We will build on the company's history of continued growth and success."

Canadian Fishing Company also owns Seattle-based Alaska General Seafoods, a salmon and herring processor with plants in Naknek and Ketchikan.

Canadian Fishing Company, the largest Canadian producer of Pacific salmon and herring, is a vertically integrated seafood company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and is owned by the Jim Pattison Group of Vancouver, Canada, a privately held and diversified corporation with investments in a number of businesses.