Seafood Producers Cooperative

What Seafood Producers Cooperative does

Seafood Producers Cooperative (SPC) is a 100% fishermen-owned cooperative founded in 1944 in Sitka, Alaska, that harvests, processes, and markets premium wild-caught seafood under its own portfolio of brands (Alaska Gold, California Gold, SPC Brand, and Longliner). SPC's product line centers on sablefish (black cod), multiple salmon varieties (King, Coho, Keta, plus a California Gold King), Pacific halibut, and sashimi-grade line-caught albacore tuna, available in fresh, frozen-at-sea, fillet, portion, and canned formats. All seafood is landed at the company's own Sitka processing facility (507 Katlian Street) and processed by SPC personnel, enabling full single-origin traceability from boat to market.

The company applies hook-and-line (longline) and troll catch methods and uses frozen-at-sea blast freezing technology (-40°F within an hour of catch) to preserve cellular quality; third-party-referenced blind taste tests reportedly cannot distinguish SPC's frozen-at-sea salmon from never-frozen line-caught fish. Operations also include a $5 million Sitka plant (built 1981, replacing the prior Seward facility destroyed in the 1964 Good Friday earthquake and tsunami), an accounting and sales office in Bellingham, Washington, and outposts across Southeast Alaska, Washington, and Northern California serving as buying stations.

SPC monetizes through three channels: wholesale B2B sales of premium seafood to high-end food service operators, premium retailers, and distributors both domestically and internationally; direct-to-consumer sales via the Alaska Gold Seafood e-commerce storefront (alaskagoldbrand.com) with doorstep delivery; and personal fish processing at cost for members (200 lb/year cap). Revenue mechanics for members include an 80% advance at sale, a January second advance to 90% of expected dock value, and a March final profit-share settlement. SPC has 501–1,000 employees, no outside investors, and no external funding rounds, reflecting its cooperative capital structure in which only producers may be owners.

Name

Seafood Producers Cooperative

Legal name

Seafood Producers Cooperative

Website

https://spcsales.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wild-Caught Seafood

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446), Fish and Seafood Retailers (445250)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Seafood Processing (Heading/Gutting/Deheading; Icing) (AFANADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seafood Wholesale (Fresh & Frozen) (AFAIADAD), Sushi/Sashimi-Grade & Raw Ready-to-Serve Seafood (Including Poke) (AFANALAI), Frozen Seafood Meals & Value-Added Seafood (CRADADAG)

Keywords

• Wild caught seafood
• Frozen at sea
• Hook and line
• Fishermen cooperative
• Premium sablefish

Headquarters

HQ city

Sitka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fishermen Product Sales: Members sell fish to the co-op at 80% of SPC Dock value at time of sale. Second advance in January brings settlement to 90% of expected total SPC dock value. Final advance in March shares profit above SPC dock (net income after cost/retained earnings deduction). This allows fishermen to ride their fish all the way into the marketplace rather than selling short at the dock.
2. Wholesale Seafood Sales: SPC sells premium wild seafood wholesale to high-end food service operators, retailers, and distributors domestically and internationally. Products available as fresh in season and premium frozen seafood throughout the year. Offered in head-on, H&G, fillets, portions and custom cuts.
3. Direct-to-Consumer Sales: SPC operates Alaska Gold Seafood retail brand at alaskagoldbrand.com, selling directly to consumers with doorstep delivery of their wild seafood products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Seafood Producers Cooperative harvests, processes, and markets premium wild-caught seafood — including troll-caught salmon (King, Coho, Keta), Pacific Halibut, Sablefish (Black Cod), and line-caught Albacore Tuna — sold wholesale to high-end food service operators, retailers, and distributors, and direct-to-consumer under the Alaska Gold Seafood brand. All products are caught using low-impact hook-and-line methods and processed at the company's Sitka, Alaska facility, with frozen-at-sea blast freezing at -40°F within one hour of catch to preserve quality.

Product overview

Seafood Producers Cooperative is a 100% fishermen-owned cooperative established in 1944, operating as North America's oldest and most successful fishermen-owned co-op. The company offers a portfolio of premium wild-caught seafood products under the Alaska Gold, California Gold, and SPC Brand names, including troll-caught salmon varieties (King, Coho, Keta), Pacific Halibut, Sablefish (Black Cod), and Albacore Tuna. The product line includes fresh seasonal offerings, frozen-at-sea premium products, and canned tuna. All products are line-caught using low-impact hook-and-line methods, processed at the company's Sitka, Alaska facility, and distributed through wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels (Alaska Gold Seafood brand).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alaska Gold King Salmon Premium troll-caught King Salmon (Chinook) harvested in Southeast Alaska waters, known for rich flavor and high Omega-3 content. Available fresh in season, or frozen and Frozen-At-Sea year-round in head-on, H&G, fillets, portions, and meat forms. Sold to wholesale food service, retailers, distributors, and direct-to-consumer.
• Alaska Gold Coho Salmon Mild-flavored troll-caught Coho (Silver) Salmon harvested in Southeast Alaska, valued for its versatility. Available fresh in season, or frozen and Frozen-At-Sea year-round in head-on, H&G, fillets, portions, and meat forms. Sold wholesale and direct-to-consumer.
• Alaska Gold Keta Salmon

Quantifiable outcome

• Frozen-at-sea salmon maintains superior quality compared to fresh market fish - expert chefs cannot distinguish frozen-at-sea from never-been-frozen line-caught salmon in blind taste tests

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Delta WesternminorOthersSPC has a fuel discount agreement with Delta Western, a local fuel distributor in Sitka. Members receive the Co-op price for fuel. Delta Western offers truck delivery at the Seawall. The agreement also provides filters and oil at discounted prices for SPC members.
• LFS, Seattle Marine, Fisheries SupplyminorOthersSPC members receive significant discounts, up to 30% off, at preferred vendor suppliers including LFS, Seattle Marine, Fisheries Supply and many others for gear and supplies.
• Alaska Longline AssociationminorOthersSPC is politically active and donates funds annually to gear groups that fight for fishermen's livelihoods, including Alaska Longline Association.
• Alaska Trollers AssociationminorOthersSPC donates funds to Alaska Trollers Association which advocates for troll-caught salmon fisheries and fishermen's rights.
• United Fishermen's AssociationminorOthersSPC supports United Fishermen's Association through annual funding as part of their political and advocacy efforts for fishermen.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trident Seafoods: Trident Seafoods is the largest vertically integrated seafood company in North America, harvesting and processing wild-caught Alaska seafood including salmon, cod, and crab. Most directly comparable to SPC in wild-catch species mix and Alaska processing footprint, though considerably larger and broader in scope.
• Ocean Beauty Seafoods: Ocean Beauty Seafoods is an Alaska-based processor and distributor of premium wild-caught salmon, halibut, sablefish, and other species, supplying retail and food service. Highly comparable to SPC's product portfolio, premium positioning, and Alaska origin story.
• North Pacific Seafoods: North Pacific Seafoods operates a vertically integrated network of Alaska seafood processing facilities and a fleet of catcher vessels harvesting wild salmon and other species. Closely comparable to SPC in species mix, Alaska-based processing, and integrated supply chain.
• Copper River Seafoods: Copper River Seafoods markets premium wild Alaska salmon (notably Copper River Kings and Sockeye) to retailers and food service. Directly comparable to SPC in premium wild-caught positioning, Alaska origin, and salmon-centric product mix.
• Peter Pan Seafood: Peter Pan Seafood is a Seattle-based processor of wild-caught Alaska salmon, cod, and pollock, supplying retail and food service channels. Comparable to SPC in wild-catch species mix, processing scale, and B2B distribution model, though with broader product range.
• Icicle Seafoods: Icicle Seafoods harvests and processes wild-caught Alaska salmon, halibut, sablefish, and other species for global markets. Directly comparable to SPC in Alaska-based wild-catch processing and wholesale distribution model.
• Vital Choice Wild Seafood & Organics: Vital Choice is a DTC retailer of premium wild-caught Alaska salmon, sablefish, and other seafood, plus organic pantry items. Directly comparable to SPC's Alaska Gold DTC channel with overlapping product mix and premium positioning.

Emerging players

• Wild Fish Direct: Wild Fish Direct is a smaller DTC retailer specializing in wild-caught, traceable seafood delivered directly to consumers. Comparable to SPC's Alaska Gold DTC channel but with narrower brand recognition and scale.

Regional players

• Fortune Fish & Gourmet: Fortune Fish & Gourmet is a Midwestern U.S. premium seafood and specialty foods distributor supplying restaurants and retailers. Comparable to SPC as a wholesale channel partner in the high-end seafood value chain, though it does not process or harvest.

Broad incumbents

• Sysco: Sysco is the largest broadline food service distributor in North America, distributing seafood (including wild-caught premium items) to restaurants, hotels, and institutions. Comparable as a downstream channel partner for SPC's premium products, though Sysco competes with SPC's wholesale customers rather than producing wild-caught seafood itself.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/alaskagoldseafood
• Xx.com/SPCSales
• Facebookfacebook.com/SeafoodProducersCooperative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seafood Producers Cooperative