Sophie Bennett
Chicken of the Sea is a canned tuna brand that is one of the largest in the United States. The brand is owned by the Thai Union Group, which is based in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The brand name is said to have originated from fishermen in the early 1900s who referred to white albacore tuna as chicken of the sea due to its white colour and mild flavour, resembling chicken. The company adopted the advertising slogan Chicken of the Sea in the 1950s, and it soon became the company name. In this paragraph, we will explore the origins of the brand name Chicken of the Sea and its connection to Thailand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand Name | Chicken of the Sea |
| Owner | Thai Union Group |
| Owner Headquarters | Samut Sakhon, Thailand |
| Product | Tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, and sardines |
| Product Type | Canned, pouches, cups, frozen |
| History | Founded in 1914 when Gilbert Van Camp purchased the California Tuna Canning Company and renamed it the Van Camp Sea Food Company |
| Advertising Slogan | "Chicken of the Sea", adopted in the 1950s |
| Mascot | Catalina, a blonde mermaid with a golden scepter |
| Reason for Name | White albacore tuna resembled chicken in colour and taste |
| Sales | US$600 million in 2003 |
| Headquarters | El Segundo, California |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken of the Sea is owned by Thai Union Group
Chicken of the Sea is a packager and provider of seafood products, including canned tuna. The brand is also attached to salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, and sardines. The company was founded in the United States in 1914 when Gilbert Van Camp, the son of Frank Van Camp, moved to San Pedro, Los Angeles, and purchased the California Tuna Canning Company, changing the name to the Van Camp Seafood Company.
In the 1950s, the company adopted the advertising slogan "Chicken of the Sea", which was first used by fishermen to describe the taste of white albacore tuna, which resembled chicken. The phrase was so successful that it became the company name in 1930.
In 1963, the Van Camp Seafood Company was purchased by Ralston Purina, and in 1988, Ralston sold its Van Camp division to an Indonesian corporation, PT Mantrust. In 2000, Thai Union Group, a Thai company headquartered in Samut Sakhon, Thailand, acquired Chicken of the Sea, becoming the sole owner of the company. Thai Union Group is the world's largest canned tuna company and the owner of other brands such as Genova and Ace of Diamonds.
Chicken of the Sea has faced criticism from Greenpeace and other organizations for its environmental and labor practices, with calls for the company and its parent, Thai Union Group, to improve sustainability and ethical standards in their supply chains.
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The name comes from fishermen's slang for white albacore tuna
The name "Chicken of the Sea" for canned tuna originates from fishermen's slang for white albacore tuna. In the early 1900s, a fisherman spotted albacore tuna and exclaimed, "Chicken of the sea!" to his crewmates, who understood the reference. The albacore tuna had a delicate white meat with a mild flavour reminiscent of chicken. This slang term was adopted as a brand name by the Van Camp Seafood Company in the 1930s, over a decade after its founding in 1914. The company was later purchased by Indonesian corporation PT Mantrust in 1988, and eventually sold to Thai Union Group, making it one of the largest tuna brands in the US.
The phrase "Chicken of the Sea" was initially devised as a way to describe the taste and colour of the fish, which was lighter and less fishy than other varieties of tuna. The white albacore tuna reminded fishermen of chicken due to its similar colour and mild flavour. This comparison to chicken was also used as a marketing strategy to make the product more appealing to consumers. The brand name "Chicken of the Sea" emphasised the accessibility and versatility of tuna, much like chicken among meats.
The adoption of the name "Chicken of the Sea" proved to be a successful marketing decision, with the company introducing an advertising mascot, Catalina, a blonde mermaid with a golden scepter, in the 1950s. The brand has faced criticism in recent years, with Greenpeace calling out the company and its parent organisation, Thai Union Group, for environmental and labour abuses, urging them to improve sustainability and human rights practices within their supply chains.
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The company was founded in 1914 by Gilbert Van Camp
Chicken of the Sea is a packager and provider of seafood, owned by the Thai Union Group in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The brand is attached to tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, and sardines in cans, pouches, and cups.
In the 1950s, the company adopted the advertising slogan "Chicken of the Sea", which was initially used to describe the taste and texture of the seafood. The slogan proved to be very successful, and the company soon became known as Chicken of the Sea. The name was also inspired by the fact that, historically, fishermen referred to white albacore tuna as "chicken of the sea" due to its white colour and mild flavour, reminiscent of chicken.
Over the years, the company changed hands several times. In 1963, the Van Camp Seafood Company was purchased by Ralston Purina, and in 1988, it was sold to an Indonesian corporation, PT Mantrust. In 2000, Tri-Marine International Inc. and Edmund A. Gann sold their 50% interest in Chicken of the Sea to Thai Union International Inc., making Thai Union the sole owner.
Today, Chicken of the Sea is a well-known brand in the seafood industry, with a presence in North America and beyond. The company has faced some criticism from Greenpeace and other organisations regarding sustainability, environmental, and labour practices. However, Thai Union, the parent company of Chicken of the Sea, has developed the SeaChange strategy, which includes measurable commitments to drive positive transformation and set standards for social, environmental, and economic responsibility in the global seafood industry.
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It is one of the largest tuna brands in the US
Chicken of the Sea is one of the largest tuna brands in the US. It is owned by the Thai Union Group, which is the world's largest canned tuna company. The brand is attached to tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, and sardines in cans, pouches, and cups. The company was founded in the United States in 1914 when Gilbert Van Camp moved to San Pedro, Los Angeles, and purchased the California Tuna Canning Company, changing the name to the Van Camp Sea Food Company.
The brand name "Chicken of the Sea" was adopted in the 1950s. The phrase was first used by fishermen to describe white albacore tuna, which has a light colour and flavour compared to other fish. The mild taste and texture of the fish were said to be similar to chicken, and the name was intended to evoke the idea that tuna is the most consumable fish, just as chicken is the most consumed bird. The name was so successful that it soon became the company name.
Chicken of the Sea has been subject to criticism from Greenpeace for its involvement in human rights and environmental abuses. Greenpeace has called for the brand and its parent company, Thai Union Group, to address these issues and provide sustainable and ethical products to consumers.
Despite the criticism, Chicken of the Sea remains one of the most recognizable tuna brands in the US, with its iconic advertising mascot, Catalina, a blonde mermaid introduced in the 1950s. The brand has also benefited from pop culture references, such as Jessica Simpson's famous confusion over the product's name on her 2003 reality TV show.
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The brand has been criticised for ethical and sustainability issues
Chicken of the Sea is a packager and provider of seafood owned by Thai Union Group, a company based in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The brand has been criticised for ethical and sustainability issues.
Greenpeace has described Chicken of the Sea as "one of the most destructive canned tuna brands in the United States for both our oceans and industry workers". Greenpeace claims that the brand does not offer any sustainable and ethical products to US consumers and that its parent company, Thai Union Group, has been linked to human rights and environmental abuses worldwide. Greenpeace has called for the company to address environmental and labour abuse in its supply chains.
Chicken of the Sea has responded to these criticisms by highlighting its sustainability plan, SeaChange®, which includes efforts to protect the safety, dignity, and well-being of workers, ensure fair wages and benefits, and provide safe and healthy working conditions. The company also claims to be advancing a healthier world through initiatives that deliver critical resources to those in need and working to restore and preserve ocean, land, plant, and animal resources to protect natural ecosystems.
Chicken of the Sea has also been recognised for its sustainability efforts by independent organisations. It ranked in the top 1% of the world's most sustainable food companies in the 2024 S&P Global Assessment and was listed for 11 consecutive years in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Additionally, the company received the 2024 Sustainability Disclosure Award from the Thaipat Institute and ranked #1 on the Seafood Stewardship Index for Sustainability out of the world's top 30 seafood companies.
Despite these accolades, Greenpeace maintains that Chicken of the Sea must do more to ensure that its products are sustainable and ethically sourced. They argue that the brand has the potential to become a leader in driving change in global tuna fisheries due to its size, reach, and purchasing power. Greenpeace calls for simple changes on the water and in the brand's cans to raise industry standards for sustainability and human rights.
In addition to sustainability and ethical concerns, Chicken of the Sea has also faced other issues. In 2016, the company recalled 107,000 cans of tuna in the US due to undercooking caused by equipment malfunction.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken of the Sea is a brand name for a packager and provider of seafood, owned by the Thai Union Group in Samut Sakhon, Thailand.
In the early 1900s, fishermen referred to white albacore tuna as "chicken of the sea" because the white colour of its flesh and its mild flavour reminded them of chicken.
Chicken of the Sea has been criticised by Greenpeace for its involvement in human rights and environmental abuses.
