Great Atlantic Trading Co Inc

What Great Atlantic Trading Co Inc does

Great Atlantic Trading Co Inc is a family-owned specialty food importer and wholesale distributor founded in the late 1980s as Great Atlantic Seafood by Dana and Denise Leavitt and officially incorporated in 1991; today it is headquartered at 563 Seaside Rd SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC. The company sources caviar (hackleback sturgeon, paddlefish, bowfin), fish roes (salmon, rainbow trout, golden whitefish), and a curated pantry of truffles, escargot, premium oils and vinegars, cured and tinned seafood, smoked fish, squid ink, and related specialty items directly from U.S. fishermen and sustainable farms without middlemen, and hand-grades/re-grades every container. Revenue is generated primarily through B2B wholesale to food distributors, wholesalers, chefs, and high-end restaurants under exclusive distributor pricing, with a secondary direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel via the separately branded Caviarstar.com storefront at retail prices.

Beyond product supply, the firm operates a full international trade and logistics brokerage: it coordinates CITES permits and customs documentation for global buyers and arranges shipping via UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, multiple LTL/TL trucking carriers, airline cargo, and ocean FCL/LCL out of six U.S. ports (Wilmington NC, Charleston SC, Miami FL, New York City NY, Los Angeles CA, Seattle WA). Value-added services include custom private labeling, specialized packaging, next-day delivery, and delivered-price quoting. Customer segments are organized horizontally across distributors/wholesalers, chefs/restaurants, retailers, international export buyers, and home gourmet consumers, with no named public-company logos disclosed.

The go-to-market is a sales-led B2B motion layered with channel partners and a small DTC e-commerce front; production marketing runs through the company website, a digital Flipsnack catalog, and the Caviarstar blog. The company maintains ongoing regulatory relationships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, APHIS, NOAA, and HACCP, and operates on quote-based, pay-as-you-go wholesale pricing with no public revenue disclosure.

Name

Great Atlantic Trading Co Inc

Legal name

Great Atlantic Trading Inc.

Website

https://greatatlantictradinginc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Great Atlantic Trading Co Inc is a family-owned U.S. importer and wholesale distributor founded in 1991 that sources American caviar, fish roes, and gourmet specialty foods directly from fishermen and sustainable farms for distribution to food distributors, chefs, restaurants, international export buyers, and retail consumers via its Caviarstar.com storefront.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Food Distribution (Caviar and Gourmet Imports)

NAICS

Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446), Fish and Seafood Retailers (445250)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Seafood Wholesale (Fresh & Frozen) (AFAIADAD)

Keywords

• Caviar wholesale distribution
• Specialty food importing
• Fish roe sourcing
• Gourmet food distribution
• Seafood import export

Headquarters

HQ city

Ocean Isle Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Product Sales: Sells caviar, roes, and specialty foods at wholesale prices to distributors, wholesalers, and foodservice operators. Revenue generated through product markups on direct imports from farms and fisheries worldwide.
2. Export/Import Trading Services: Facilitates international trade of American caviar and specialty foods. Handles logistics, customs documentation, CITES permits, and tariff calculations for global customers. Revenue from product sales plus service fees for logistics coordination.
3. Retail E-commerce: Operates Caviarstar.com for direct-to-consumer sales of specialty foods and caviar at retail prices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Great Atlantic Trading is a direct importer and wholesale distributor of American caviar, fish roes, and specialty gourmet foods. The company sources products without middlemen from U.S. fishermen and sustainable farms, then handles expert grading, hand-packing, regulatory documentation (CITES, FWS, APHIS, NOAA, HACCP, FDA), and global logistics. Its B2B arm supplies distributors, wholesalers, chefs, and high-end restaurants, while a separate consumer brand (Caviarstar.com) sells the same products at retail. The portfolio spans American domestic caviar varieties (hackleback, paddlefish, bowfin, salmon, trout, whitefish roes), plus a curated pantry of truffles, escargot, oils, vinegars, smoked and tinned seafood, vanilla, spices, and caviar serving ware.

Product overview

Great Atlantic Trading Inc. is a specialty food importer and wholesale caviar distributor founded in 1991, operating as a family-run B2B company that sources, grades, and packages fine seafoods and gourmet specialty foods for America's top kitchens. The core product portfolio centers on American domestic caviar and fish roes (including hackleback sturgeon, paddlefish, bowfin, salmon, rainbow trout, and golden whitefish varieties), complemented by a curated pantry of truffles, escargot, premium oils and vinegars, smoked and tinned seafood, and caviar serving ware. The company operates two related brands: Great Atlantic Trading Inc. for B2B wholesale and distributor relationships, and Caviarstar.com for consumer retail. Key add-on capabilities include custom private labeling on any product, next-day delivery services, and comprehensive international shipping brokerage covering courier, air freight, ocean freight, and trucking logistics. All products are sourced directly from U.S. fishermen and sustainable farms without middlemen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hackleback Sturgeon Caviar American black caviar harvested from wild hackleback sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus). Requires CITES permit for international trade. Sold wholesale to distributors, chefs, and at retail through Caviarstar.com.
• Paddlefish Caviar American black caviar from paddlefish (Polyodon spathula). Requires CITES permit for international trade. Sold wholesale and at retail.
• Salmon Roe Red caviar from salmon species including Keta, Kisutch, Gorbuscha, and Chinook (Chinook/sockeye). Sourced domestically. Sold wholesale and at retail.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)coreOthersGreat Atlantic Trading is certified and regulated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the trade of sturgeon/paddlefish caviar and meat. All imports and exports meet CITES requirements and must be declared to FWS inspectors. Company undergoes yearly inspections for compliance.
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)coreOthersUSDA branch ensuring free flow of agricultural trade by keeping industries free from pests and diseases and certifying products meet importing countries' entry requirements. Plays vital role in observing and regulating health of animals being traded.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreOthersNOAA ensures fisheries are productive and sustainable, recovers and conserves protected marine resources, monitors domestic and international trade, inspects sources and distribution centers, and collects and analyzes data for regulatory compliance.
• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)coreOthersFDA branch managing food safety through analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production through consumption. Assesses every aspect of food processes and inspects facilities and equipment.
• UPSminorOthersPrimary courier service for smaller sized orders, both perishable and non-perishable products delivered nationally or internationally. Great Atlantic enjoys reduced rates due to high shipping volume.
• FedExminorOthersCourier service utilized for smaller sized orders including perishable and non-perishable products delivered nationally or internationally.
• DHLminorOthersInternational courier service used for smaller sized orders requiring international delivery of products.
• Frozen Food Express (FFE)minorOthersCommon carrier for Less Than Truckload (LTL), Partial Truckload, and Full Truckload (TL) freight services including refrigerated or freezer temperature shipments.
• UPS FreightminorOthersCommon carrier for trucking services for non-perishable and temperature-controlled shipments within the U.S.
• R+L CarriersminorOthersCommon carrier for trucking services handling freight shipments within the U.S.
• Southeastern Freight LinesminorOthersRegional freight carrier for Less Than Truckload shipments within the southeastern United States.
• SaiaminorOthersCommon carrier for trucking services providing freight solutions across the U.S.
• Ward TruckingminorOthersCommon carrier for trucking services handling freight shipments within the U.S.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Ducktrap River of Maine: Specialty smoked seafood and smoked salmon producer supplying natural foods distributors, retailers, and foodservice. Comparable specialty seafood portfolio overlap with Great Atlantic's smoked and tinned seafood assortment for the same curated-pantry accounts.
• The Caviar Co. DTC-focused American caviar brand with subscription gifting and chef supply. Overlaps with Caviarstar.com in consumer-direct specialty caviar while competing for the same chef and restaurant accounts.

Direct peers

• Browne Trading Company: Portland, Maine-based specialty seafood importer and wholesaler with a similar caviar and roe portfolio plus broader fine seafood lines. Comparable direct-to-chef and wholesale distribution model with emphasis on sustainability and traceability.
• Sterling Caviar: California-based American sturgeon caviar producer supplying premium farmed caviar to U.S. distributors and chefs. Comparable American-domestic caviar positioning and overlap in foodservice accounts.
• Marky's Caviar: Long-standing U.S. caviar and gourmet food retailer/wholesaler offering American hackleback, paddlefish, and imported caviars alongside truffles and specialty pantry — directly overlapping Great Atlantic's B2B and gift/retail categories.
• Black River Caviar: Specialty American paddlefish and sturgeon caviar supplier to chefs and distributors. Closely comparable niche sourcing of wild U.S. roes with regulatory documentation for the same foodservice and wholesale buyers.
• Romanov Caviar: U.S. caviar wholesaler and retailer offering farmed and wild American caviars to distributors, chefs, and gift consumers. Comparable channel mix across wholesale, retail, and gifting.
• Tsar Imperial Caviar: Importer and distributor of domestic and imported caviars, smoked fish, and gourmet specialties to wholesalers, retailers, and restaurants. Overlaps in caviar/roe sourcing and curated pantry distribution.
• Imperial Caviar & Seafoods: U.S. caviar and seafood wholesaler offering American hackleback, paddlefish, salmon roe, and farm-raised caviars to distributors and foodservice. Directly comparable product mix and B2B distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Petrossian: Established global caviar house operating retail boutiques and wholesale distribution. Overlaps in caviar sourcing, retail gifting, and fine-food pantry (smoked fish, foie gras) but at larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-atlantic-trading-inc

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Great Atlantic Trading Co Inc