WHITING, Maine, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Look's Gourmet Food Co., Inc./Bar Harbor Foods/ -- From humble beginnings on the Downeast coast of Maine, Look's Gourmet Food Company has grown its authentic, all-natural brand, Bar Harbor- into one of America's fastest growing shelf-stabile seafood brands! Inclusion for the 4th year in a row on the 2010 Inc. 5,000 list of America's fastest growing privately held companies further substantiates the company's viability and sustainability even in uncertain economic times.
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Mike Cote purchased the historic Downeast Maine cannery, started in 1917 by the Look family, prior to its doors being closed in 2003. Realizing immediately the marketability of Maine, a memorable trademark and a portfolio of authentic Maine seafood-based products, Cote has, in less than 8 years, turned the company into a highly successful national specialty food brand.
On a vacation to Maine, Cote, a Maine native himself, and a veteran of the specialty food arena, happened upon the opportunity to purchase the Downeast family business. No family members existed to continue operating the business and unless an adventurous entrepreneur could be matched with the unique food operation, it was slated for closure. When Cote realized the trademarked brands owned by the company, he knew with the growing consumer demand for authentic, all natural, foods, he had discovered a diamond in the rough that had the potential to become something great. In less than eight years the Bar Harbor- brand has garnered placement in approximately 30% of U.S. retail grocery and in the majority of natural and specialty food stores. Bar Harbor- currently dominates the number two slot in total Clam Juice sales as reported by IRI scan data. With its launch of all-natural fish and cooking stocks last year, the brand has answered the consumer need for high-quality, shelf-stabile ingredients in addition to prepared foods. This past summer brought even more innovation to the brand as Bar Harbor- provided consumers with other ways to use its products; most recently, a recipe for "Clam Chowda Pizza," using nothing more than condensed New England Clam Chowder for a pizza sauce, pizza cheese and Mike's "secret ingredient," chopped cooked bacon, as the topping. To the amazement of initially quizzical attendees at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, once they tasted it, the chefs could not keep up with demand for this delicious new pizza! It's Mike Cote's entrepreneurial spirit coupled with his knowledge base of specialty food that has given the Bar Harbor- brand its ability to grow and meet the demands of its ever-changing audience of highly selective but boldly adventurous foodies who love unique, delicious, authentic culinary options.
About Look's Gourmet Food Co., Inc./Bar Harbor Foods Look's Gourmet Food Co., Inc. produces authentic, all-natural, shelf-stabile fish and seafood chowders and bisques, sauces, cooking stocks, premium bottled clam juice and hand-packed fancy fish and seafood meats, including Certified whole Maine lobster. Please follow Bar Harbor Foods on Facebook and Twitter and at www.barharborfoods.com.
SOURCE Look's Gourmet Food Co., Inc./Bar Harbor Foods
