Dongwon Industries announced on June 10 that it will begin the full-scale distribution of bluefin tunas caught by Korean coastal fishermen.
Dongwon Industries will introduce domestically caught bluefin tunas as sashimi products by leveraging its 57 years of know-how in tuna refrigeration and processing and its cold chain logistics network.
The method involves purchasing bluefin tunas caught by coastal fishermen, processing it quickly, and selling it through major distribution channels.
A key feature of this product is that bluefin tunas have never been frozen from catch to distribution.
Dongwon Industries maintains the freshness by managing processing and logistics under refrigerated conditions, enabling consumers to purchase domestic bluefin tuna sashimi at stores near their homes.
Domestic bluefin tuna sashimi will be sold at major distribution channels such as E-Mart, Hyundai Department Store and Lotte Mart and on Naver Brand Store.
The background behind Dongwon Industries’ decision to distribute domestic bluefin tuna lies in an increase in bluefin tuna catches in coastal waters and the issue of finding or expanding sales channels for fishermen.
Although the catch of bluefin tuna in domestic coastal waters has increased recently due to climate change and rising water temperatures, coastal fishermen have struggled to secure stable sales outlets.
Dongwon Industries plans to purchase these catches, commercialize them, and supply them to consumers based on its distribution network and processing capabilities.
Through this, the company expects it will be able to efficiently utilize marine resources and expand the foundation for mutual growth with Korean fishermen.
To establish an effective distribution system, Dongwon Industries signed a business agreement with the Large Purse Seine Fisheries Cooperative in March.
Both parties agreed to cooperate in expanding distribution bases for domestic coastal marine resources.
StarKist, a U.S. subsidiary of Dongwon Industries, holds the 5th Resource Rally in Herndon, Virginia of the United States. (Photo: StarKist)
Providing Support to Underprivileged in Northern Virginia of US
StarKist, a U.S. subsidiary of Dongwon Industries, has launched a large-scale support program for vulnerable groups in the Northern Virginia region of the United States. Industry observers evaluated it as strengthening ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management locally by continuing a long-term campaign to alleviate food insecurity, going beyond one-off donations.
According to the U.S. non-profit organization Cornerstones on June 23, StarKist recently held the 5th Resource Rally in Herndon, Virginia, together with relief organizations Feed the Children and Cornerstones.
Through this event, StarKist provided food and daily necessities to 400 households in Northern Virginia facing food shortages and economic difficulties.
On this day, StarKist employees and community volunteers participated in delivering 400 family kits containing StarKist products, 25 pounds of long-lasting food, and 15 pounds of household and personal hygiene products.
Based on a family of four, this support provided meals and daily necessities to over 8,300 people in total.
StarKist did not stop at one-time support; it will also sponsor Feed the Children’s “Put Child Hunger to Bed” Campaign until September 30.
For every StarKist tuna pouch purchased by a consumer, the company donates an equal quantity of products, up to a maximum of 100,000 units and provides additional support on a 1:1 matching basis for consumer donations, up to a maximum of $100,000.
The donated products and funds will be used to provide food, daily necessities, and educational resources to children and families suffering from food shortages.
Meanwhile, StarKist is the number-one company in the U.S. canned tuna market with annual sales of over 1 trillion won. Dongwon Industries took over the company in 2008.
