Seafood Expo North America 2023: A Global Gathering in Boston

The 44th edition of the Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America kicked off on March 15 at the Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, drawing seafood industry professionals from all corners of the globe.

Event Overview

This three-day expo, which runs through March 17, occupies an impressive 247,915 net square feet of exhibit space and features over 1,215 exhibitors from 50 countries. It stands as the continent’s largest seafood trade event, fostering connections among industry stakeholders.

Major Retail Buyers Attend

Representing a myriad of leading retailers, attendees include major players such as Ahold Delhaize, Albertsons, Aldi, Amazon, Costco, Kroger, Target, and Whole Foods Market. Their presence highlights the event’s significance in the North American seafood market.

New Countries, Enhanced Representation

This year’s expo sees a remarkable expansion with the introduction of exhibitors from Costa Rica, Hong Kong, the Maldives, New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland. Brenna Hensley, VP of seafood at Diversified, noted that this increasing global representation indicates the event’s expanding international footprint.

“This year’s event reflects the truly global nature of our industry, with exciting new representation joining our exhibitor floor for the first time,” Hensley stated.

She added that countries like Vietnam, Ecuador, Taiwan, and Portugal are increasingly participating, showcasing the event as a vital platform for connecting international suppliers with the North American market.

What to Expect on the Expo Floor

The exhibit hall encompasses the full seafood supply chain, featuring an array of fresh, frozen, canned, value-added, processed, and packaged products. Notable exhibitors include Acme Smoked Fish Corp., Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods, and Trident Seafoods, among others.

The Seafood Processing North America area showcases cutting-edge processing and packaging technology, refrigeration solutions, logistics, and supply chain services, with participants like JBT Marel, Lineage, and Multivac contributing to the advancements in the sector.

Conference Program and Keynote Address

The conference features a packed schedule with 40 sessions led by 125 industry experts, covering topics such as aquaculture, buyer insights, trends in consumer behavior, sustainable innovation, and supply chain traceability.

The keynote address, titled “Fork in the Current: The Economic and Trade Realities Shaping Seafood in 2026,” was delivered by Nomi Prins, a macro-economist and financial expert. Her talk focused on the implications of energy volatility, regulatory changes, and the integration of artificial intelligence in the seafood sector.

Wynter Courmont, group VP of seafood at Diversified, emphasized the programming’s goal: “These three days are designed to provide actionable intelligence to attendees, shaping the future of the seafood industry.”

Innovation Hub and Awards Ceremony

The Wave Makers’ Zone is the expo’s central gathering space, hosting New and Featured Product showcases and the Seafood Excellence Awards announcement. Notable receptions include the Connecting Women in Seafood networking event and an exciting Oyster Shucking Competition scheduled for March 17.

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