Marine Farms Vietnam, in collaboration with Nordic Group, will be launching a major public relations campaign to promote farm-raised cobia to restaurants, grocery stores, caterers, and consumers in the United States.
The sashimi-grade fish has been test marketed and received high marks for its versatility and flavour by restaurant groups nationwide where the cobia has been served plated, in buffets, chowders, and sushi.
The PR program will include social media, a new website, cooking demonstration videos, recipes developed by professional chefs, direct marketing, presentations, media relations, and promotional materials for customers.
"We firmly believe that it is finally time for cobia to live up to its promise as the 'next sensation in the seafood industry,'" said Terje Korsnes, CEO of Nordic Group.
"We have gone through the quiet phase of product development. It is now time to raise the product profile and create awareness at every level of the trade."
Carlos Massad, managing director of Marine Farms Vietnam, calls cobia "the ideal aquaculture fish. It compares in taste and has many of the same characteristics as Chilean sea bass and hamachi, grows to 12 pounds in just 12 months, has more Omega-3 oils than salmon, and is priced competitively.
"Importantly, Marine Farms Vietnam cobia, farm raised in open sea cages at low population densities, targets the demand for a sustainable and stable supply of high quality white meat fish fillet," he said.
The Norwegian parent company, Marine Farms A/S, has invested more than $10 million in developing the world's largest cobia fish farming operation, utilising proven Norwegian aquaculture techniques. The fish are fed the same nutritional profile as farm-raised salmon, but without colour additives, with all fish feed ingredients derived from certified sustainable fisheries.
Nordic Group is the exclusive marketing agent for Marine Farms Vietnam in the United States and Canada. The fish will be sold under the akvacobia brand.
