Business View Magazine | August 2019

35 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019 suppliers, some fishermen sell to them directly, and they also purchase from suppliers that have excess lobster. Typical customers are food service companies, cruise lines, restaurant chains such as Red Lobster, and large grocery chains. Shediac Lobster Shop’s naked lobster is a favorite – de- shelled and frozen completely raw, so chefs can cook it themselves for their own signature dishes. Speaking to the challenges in the lobster industry, Belliveau reports, “The lobster is readily available but weather is a big factor. If it’s windy for four or five days, and the fishermen don’t go out and fish, we’re down 70,000 pounds a day. In one week, that’s 490,000 pounds that we can’t process. We’re geared for volume and when you miss several days because of weather, it’s a lot. And we can’t do anything about it.” There is no lobster limit, but there is a time period when fishermen can fish and a number of traps they’re allowed to fish. Direct competition is not an issue. “We’re all busy,” says Belliveau. “We have our markets and we have to support the fishermen, too, because if one company tries to get it all, some of the fishermen are going to suffer. We need some processing volumes to accommodate the fishermen. If they come to your door to sell their catch, and you say, “Sorry I already bought my limit,” they’re out of luck. That’s why competition among processors is good for our fishing industry.” Another challenge is China’s developing economy that’s creating a big demand for high-end items like lobster, and putting pressure on the resource. Some owners of Chinese companies have even purchased lobster operations in Canada. Shediac Lobster Shop’s business is growing and China is driving much of that growth, along with an increased need for skilled workers. But the local labor force isn’t sufficient to sustain the company’s demand, so the company is bringing in laborers from Mexico, the Philippines, and some Asian countries. To accommodate those workers, Shediac Lobster Shop has purchased some housing in the area to take care of them – after all, these people will be spending a good amount of money in the community. The company is involved in the community in many other ways, including being SHEDI AC LOBSTER SHOP LTD .