Del Mar Seafoods Inc. has announced a significant expansion of its operations with the leasing of a new processing facility, adding cutting-edge Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) technology to its capabilities.
The newly leased facility, located on the same campus as Del Mar’s corporate headquarters in Watsonville, increases the company’s operational footprint by 40%. The expansion is expected to boost processing capacity and streamline production, enabling the company to meet growing demand for its seafood products.
“This was the logical next step in our company’s growth,” said Joe Roggio, Chief Financial Officer of Del Mar Seafoods. “This new facility provides us with additional processing capacity and will allow us to expand our value-added product and service offerings.”
At the core of the expansion is a new, best-in-class IQF system that uses liquid nitrogen to quickly freeze seafood while preserving optimal texture, taste, and freshness. The system will be used to process Del Mar’s flagship products, including IQF Northern Anchovies and IQF California Market Squid.
“We opted for a nitrogen-based IQF system, as it preserves product texture, taste, and overall freshness better than traditional ammonia- or freon-based systems,” said Joe Cappuccio, Chief Executive Officer of Del Mar Seafoods. “With this system, we now have the fastest freezing capabilities in the industry.”
The expansion marks a key milestone in Del Mar Seafoods’ commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation in seafood processing.