Pacific Seafood and Ocean Beauty Seafoods have officially closed the merger of their distribution operations, Pacific Seafood confirmed on July 17, bringing together two of the US West Coast’s most established family-owned seafood companies.
The deal closed July 13 and includes most of Ocean Beauty’s distribution facilities. Specifically, the merger covers Ocean Beauty’s operations in Astoria and Portland, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; Dallas, Texas; Helena, Montana; and Renton, Washington. Ocean Beauty’s Salt Lake City, Utah, facility was not included in the transaction at the time of closing, according to the companies.
Pacific Seafood President and CEO Frank Dulcich framed the deal as a milestone for the company’s eastward expansion and long-term growth strategy.
“We are excited to bring our teams together by combining the best of both our respective companies, which will make us stronger and better together to serve our valued customers, our communities in which we serve, and our joint teams and their families,” Dulcich said in a statement to Intrafish.
Michael Link, an Ocean Beauty investor and CEO of the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, said the combination creates “a sustainable and exciting future for all of Ocean Beauty Seafoods customers and team members.”
The merger is part of Pacific’s broader Mission 31 initiative — owner Frank Dulcich’s long-term goal to substantially grow the company by 2031. “We look forward to building on the legacy that brought us here while advancing Mission 31,” Pacific said in a social media post.
Ocean Beauty had first announced plans to divest its distribution business in late 2023. The companies notified partners in writing earlier this month, but made no public comments confirming the deal.
