FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 6, 2020

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Craig Morris, CEO (703) 254-8841
Erin Jundef, Ketchum, (415) 984-6269
Media@alaskapollock.org

GAPP Members Arrive in China to Explore Export Market Opportunities

Industry Leaders will Visit Three Cities and Glean Valuable Insights on Future Market Potential,
Collaborations

SHANGHAI, CHINA—The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced today that
a contingent of Wild Alaska Pollock industry leaders arrived in Shanghai, China to begin a 10-day trip to
explore future opportunities in this critical export market. The trip, which was funded in large part by a
grant provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, Emerging Markets
Program, will consist of stops in Shanghai, Qingdao and Beijing.

“China is a critically important export market for Wild Alaska Pollock and we’re eager to explore the
market further and fully understand this market’s challenges and opportunities,” said Craig Morris, Chief
Executive Officer of GAPP. “These eight leaders represent various sectors of the industry and will help be
our eyes and ears on the ground to report back actionable insights that can benefit the entire industry,
writ large.”

The eight industry leaders on the trip include Jeffrey Welbourn and William Maio, Trident Seafoods;
Margery Schelling and Jostein Rortveit, American Seafoods; Jason Martin, Golden Alaska Seafoods;
Jacob Christensen, Arctic Storm Holding Company; and Jeffery Kauffman, Central Bering Sea Fishermen’s
Association. These leaders were nominated by the GAPP Board of Directors and leadership both for their
experience and their position in various sectors of the Wild Alaska Pollock industry.

Leaders will meet with key industry customers in the region and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The group will begin in Shanghai where they will spend several days meeting with leading club stores
Sam’s Club and Costco and observe other popular retail outlets including several traditional wet
markets. The visit to Shanghai will also include time spent observing the popular e-commerce systems
and meeting with Foreign Agricultural Service officials.

The trip will then progress to Qingdao where the focus will shift to Surimi and fish sausage processing
and discussions about new Surimi applications. Lastly, the trip will conclude in Beijing where the leaders
will meet with members of the U.S. embassy and additional retailers, including a popular online delivery
meal service.

“The goals of this journey are simple: to continue to cement our current customer relationships in China
and explore exciting new opportunities for collaboration,” said Morris. “With disease outbreaks and
shifting protein demands, China is looking for new options for its consumers—and Wild Alaska Pollock is
perfectly positioned to capitalize on growing protein demand.”

For frequent updates on the trip and key insights, be sure to follow the Association social media as well
as check the GAPP blog for guest blogs written by trip participants.

-END-

About GAPP

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) is dedicated to the marketing of once-
frozen pollock products, harvested and processed in Alaska. A non-profit Alaska corporation formed in
2003, GAPP is working to promote Genuine Alaska Pollock in major whitefish markets around the world,
with a focus on Europe, North America and Japan. It is our goal to educate both seafood buyers and
consumers about the superior benefits of Genuine Alaska Pollock®. www.alaskapollock.org