End to End Touchpoints for Seafood Processing and Packaging – And Our View of The Industry

At TGW International, we provide knives for every step of the seafood and freshwater fish processing and packaging operation. From fillet knives, slicers, cutoff knives and ultrasonic cutters for processing fresh and frozen seafood and related products, to bagger knives and overwrap knives to produce secure and durable packaging to protect them on the trip to the grocery store or to one of your favorite restaurants, we do it all.

Thanks to our ability to provide our customers with an all-in-one solution, we have a unique perspective on the industry of seafood and freshwater fish processing – so, in this article, we’ll discuss a few of the trends and major influences that we’ve noticed in the seafood processing and packaging industry.

A Rise in High-Pressure Processing (HPP)

One of the biggest challenges in seafood is keeping products safe and appealing for customers, even when they must travel distances of hundreds or even thousands of miles and have a long shelf life.

Because of this, we’re seeing a rise in the use of High-Pressure Processing (HPP), which is a pasteurization technique that uses extremely high levels of hydrostatic pressure to destroy microorganisms without affecting food flavor or texture.

In the future, we think it’s likely that HPP may be used for most seafood that must be transported long distances, to ensure that the product remains safe – yet delicious – once it arrives at its destination.

Modified Atmospheric Packaging (MAP) 

Another trend in seafood processing and packaging is the rise of Modified Atmospheric Packaging, or MAP for short. MAP uses a special blend of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen to replace the air surrounding chilled (or even living, in the case of mussels and shellfish) seafood. This gas mixture is pumped into a vacuum, and helps prolong the life of living seafood, and preserve the taste of processed seafood.

A Rise in Prepared Seafood Spurred By “Meal Kits”

We think that seafood processors are going to see even more demand for sliced, pre-packaged, and sealed seafood products, such as fish filets, due to the popularity of meal kits like Blue Apron, and similar products.

Consumers are increasingly turning to these kits, rather than grocery stores that have fresh fish, or purchasing their own fish from the “frozen” aisle of their local supermarket. Packaging companies and processors will need to realize this – and invest in the proper equipment to keep up with demand.

Know What’s Next for the Seafood Industry!

At TGW International, we value our clients in the seafood processing and packaging industry, so we hope this brief blog has been informative and helpful. Think about the trends you’ve seen yourself – and how you can prepare for the future!