Photo: Hirose Suisan/FIS

Hirose Suisan Expands Scallop Processing with New Facility

JAPAN
Friday, November 08, 2024, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Hirose Suisan Co.,Ltd, a surimi producer based in Okoppe, Hokkaido, is set to double its scallop processing capacity with a new facility. Known for its pollock surimi, the company now aims to make scallops a core component of its business alongside surimi production.

Company President Tetsuji Hirose shared that current annual sales are approximately JPY 3 billion (USD 20 million) from surimi and just under JPY 1 billion (USD 7 million) from scallops. Currently, the company processes about 200 tons of frozen scallop meat and 1,500 to 2,000 tons of raw frozen scallops in the shell from various coastal sources along the Sea of Okhotsk.

The new facility, slated for completion in March and expected to launch operations in April 2025, will add 200 tons of frozen scallop meat to its annual output, bringing total scallop meat production capacity to 400 tons. The expansion responds to a surging demand for frozen scallop products both domestically and internationally, with high interest from markets in the United States and Asia.

The project, which began construction in August, represents an investment of about JPY 1.4 billion (USD 9.5 million). Government funding will cover two-thirds of the cost for essential equipment, including an automated shelling machine and a tunnel freezer, helping ensure the facility’s efficiency and capacity to meet growing market needs.

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