NZTE sponsors seafood expert for NZ seafood industry conference

Press Release by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, 15 May 2007

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is sponsoring leading US seafood consultant Rex Clothier as a keynote speaker at next week's Seafood Industry Council's annual conference.

Rex Clothier will be speaking on ‘the US market expectations for New Zealand seafood', covering a number of issues, including sustainability, US markets, global sourcing, economic integrity, US consumers, and supply chain management.

The two-day conference will take place at Te Papa in Wellington on 22-23 May 2007.

NZTE Sector Director Food & Beverage Leone Evans said: "We're delighted to welcome Rex Clothier to New Zealand for this year's Seafood Industry Conference. The United States is one of the largest export markets for New Zealand seafood and a hugely important growth focus region for us.

"Rex has a wealth of experience in the US seafood industry and will be able to provide conference attendees with some extremely valuable insights into the trends shaping the US market in the future and the opportunities for New Zealand exporters to capitalise on this significant market."

The United States is one of New Zealand's biggest export market for fish and seafood. Of which, mussels are New Zealand's greatest US seafood export. Mussel exports to the US are valued at around NZD$64.8 million per year. Fish and seafood exports worldwide generate NZD$1.35 billion in export revenue each year.

Rex Clothier is a consultant with a breadth of experience in US industry, including Alaskan boat and small-processor industries. Through variously held positions he has undertaken global sourcing for Nippon Suisan, been a senior seafood buyer of imported and domestic, wild and aqua products for Darden, and held a Senior VP position at US Foodservice as leader of centre-of-plate purchase.