THE PIVOT: P.E.I. seafood firm rides surge in demand

James Risdon

Smoked herring and mussels producer Mary Manette Seafood clinched distribution deals with specialty stores throughout the country during the pandemic and will soon be in Sobeys stores across Atlantic Canada.

The Prince Edward Island company landed the Sobeys distribution deal six weeks ago and is already selling its tinned seafood products at the grocer's outlet in Charlottetown.

The rest of the 83 Atlantic Canadian Sobeys stores are expected to pick up Mary Manette products by the end of the summer.

In the rest of Canada, the company is selling its smoked herring and mussels through distribution deals brokered through roughly 160 specialty outlets.

In Quebec, its products are sold in Metro grocery stores.

Almost all Mary Manette's sales are coming from these deals. That wasn't the original plan.