Regal New Zealand King Salmon is expanding its distribution to all Fresh Thyme Market grocery stores. Regal began selling its sliced smoked salmon at the Downers Grove, Illinois Fresh Thyme Market location last year.
"This is something that doesn't happen every day in the grocery retail world of seafood," said Jason Resner, Fresh Thyme Market's vice president of fresh merchandising, in a statement. "Allowing customers everyday access to this level of high quality salmon fillet at a value, across 10 Midwest states, is a great way to start the new year."
This rollout fits into the retailer’s emphasis on healthy foods at affordable prices. Raised in the clean and cold waters of New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds, the salmon is prized for its texture and taste, according to Regal New Zealand Salmon Co. It also was the first marine-raised salmon to achieve the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Green/Best Choice rating, which was renewed in 2020.
"We are delighted to become Fresh Thyme Market's strategic supplier for top-grade salmon," said Michael Fabbro, New Zealand King Salmon Co.'s vice president, North America, in a statement. "The chain's shoppers have already said yes to our smoked salmon line. We know they'll enjoy adding fresh King filets to their culinary repertoire."
In collaboration with Regal, Fresh Thyme will provide shoppers with recipes and educational materials about the health benefits of King Salmon which has one of the highest natural healthy oil contents of all salmon varieties.
Related: Specialty SKU Cutbacks Seen Easing in 2021; Fresh Thyme Market to Introduce Tech-Enabled Shelf Tags.
Image: Fresh Thyme Market/Regal New Zealand King Salmon