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In conjunction with the promotion, federally funded through the state's salmon revitalization project, Wal-Mart purchased about $140,000 of Alaska seafood for its China stores, said Sun Kim, trade specialist with the Alaska Department of Commerce.
"China is a huge market," said Kim, noting the market potential with the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and the 2010 World Expo slated for Shanghai. "We are aiming for high-end markets. We have to go for high-end retailers. That doesn't mean we will stop at Wal-Mart only.
"The industry has to pay attention to China," Kim said. "The market is there and we have to start now."
Wal-Mart officials in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen want the same group to come back and do more promotions to educate consumers on how to prepare wild Alaska seafoods, Kim said.
"Giving shoppers an immediate taste of prepared salmon and black cod gave us some easy, immediate sales," Kim said.
Major fish competition in China today comes from white fish and farmed salmon from Norway, she said. "Our work has just begun."
In part, because of the relatively high price, the target audiences for wild Alaska seafood in China are young, sophisticated urban residents, Kim said.
Kim was joined on the 14-day food demonstration project, conducted at five Wal-Mart stores, by representatives of Trident Seafoods and Bill Hines, executive director of the Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board. The wild Alaska seafood purchased by Wal-Mart in China will be sold in at least 32 Chinese Wal-Marts, state officials said.
According to state Department of Commerce officials, China surpassed Canada last year to become Alaska's third largest export partner. China has more than doubled its purchase of Alaska's products in the last twoyears, said Commerce Commissioner Bill Noll. In 2005 alone, China accounted for $337 million in exports from seafood, fish meal, minerals, fertilizers and wood, Noll said.
Margaret Bauman can be reached at margie.bauman@alaskajournal.com.
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