Page 35 - Retail World March 2021

“Be it frozen fish for convenience and portion control, or using a new exotic spice blend, in- home dining can be fun and transport diners to another time and place.” Covid has “flipped” the way Australians consume seafood. With this in mind, he says it’s “really important” to be adaptive and to create product lines for what is the “new normal”, suggesting the creation of gourmet at-home experiences through new and exciting product lines. “Be it frozen fish for convenience and portion control, or using a new exotic spice blend, in-home dining can be fun and transport diners to another time and place,” he said. Huon has several new lines in Coles and Woolworths, including Huon Ocean Trout cutlets and Salmon Kebabs. Mr Hunnisett says for Huon, the fact that the kebabs are being sold alongside other pre-made kebabs in the deli is pleasing, and, he notes, offers shoppers a great opportunity to serve up some salmon instead of chicken. Going hand in hand with the new additions in-store, Huon’s national above-the-line advertising campaign, now running, is educating consumers that they can “give chicken the night off” by serving salmon. “Salmon is a versatile protein that’s healthy, nutritious and easy to cook,” Mr Hunnisett said. “Our research shows that chicken is the most consumed protein in Australia, and it’s also the easiest to substitute for salmon. This campaign is running for 12 months and features a TVC, digital placements, in-store advertising, social media campaign and media activity.” Looking ahead, Huon will continue to have a “strong focus” on diversifying its sales channels, he says, converting more Australians into salmon lovers and farming Australia’s “only RSPCA approved salmon”. Bringing local value to the table Sydney-based Land of Plenty Food Co’s seafood brand, Our Family Table, has been well received by consumers, according to founder and Creative Director Karen Lavecky, especially given the dietary shift to gluten free over the past few years. “Key retailers such as Coles and Costco have been very supportive of the brand and are working closely with us as we evolve to meet new shifts in consumer demands,” she said. Since Our Family Table was launched, however, Ms Lavecky says the brand has found it challenging to source a consistent and sufficient supply of Australian fish to meet its production requirements. “This has made it extremely difficult for us to bring affordable, everyday value- TO PAGE 34 SEAFOOD MAR, 2021 RETAIL WORLD 33