Cooke Inc. has been recognized as the Exporter of the Year by Food and Beverage Atlantic (FBA) at the association’s annual conference and awards ceremony held in Moncton, New Brunswick.
The Exporter of the Year award is a new category introduced by FBA. It recognizes a food and beverage company that has demonstrated significant success in exporting products from Atlantic Canada to markets outside the region. The award also acknowledges achievements in market development, international growth, and overcoming challenges related to global competition. According to FBA, recipients of this award contribute not only to their own expansion but also help enhance the reputation of Atlantic Canadian products worldwide.
Lauren McKelvey, Director of Marketing for True North Seafood at Cooke, accepted the award on behalf of the company. She highlighted the importance of teamwork: “So much of our success globally can be attributed to the team we have here locally, at our freshwater hatcheries and saltwater sea sites, in our processing plant facilities, behind the wheels of our trucks, and in our offices.”
Cooke exports fresh Atlantic salmon produced locally to both domestic grocers and international food service providers. The company employs over 2,300 people in Atlantic Canada and supports a local supply chain involving hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses. These include suppliers of fish and shellfish who rely on Cooke’s network to bring their products to market.
Food and Beverage Atlantic is an association based in Atlantic Canada focused on supporting the region’s food and beverage processing sector. Its programs aim to promote sustainability and growth for companies operating from local farmer’s markets up to international export markets.