Lucas Delgado
Chicken of the Sea is a seafood packaging and provider company, specialising in canned tuna. The company was founded in the United States in 1914 when Gilbert Van Camp purchased the California Tuna Canning Company, changing its name to the Van Camp Sea Food Company. The brand name Chicken of the Sea was first devised as a way to describe the taste of white albacore tuna, which fishermen likened to chicken due to its mild flavour and light colour. Today, Chicken of the Sea is owned by the Thai Union Group, the world's largest canned tuna company.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Owner | Thai Union Group |
| Location | Samut Sakhon, Thailand |
| Product | Tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, and sardines |
| Product Type | Canned, pouches, and cups |
| History | Founded in the United States by Gilbert Van Camp in 1914 when he purchased the California Tuna Canning Company and renamed it the Van Camp Sea Food Company |
| Brand Name Origin | Fishermen referred to white albacore tuna as "chicken of the sea" due to its white color and mild flavor, resembling chicken |
| Mascot | Catalina, a blonde mermaid with a golden scepter, introduced in the 1950s |
| Sustainability | Greenpeace has criticized Chicken of the Sea and Thai Union Group for environmental and labor abuses, calling for a sustainable and ethical supply chain |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken of the Sea's ownership
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. The company was founded in the United States in 1914 when Frank Van Camp's son, Gilbert Van Camp, moved to San Pedro, Los Angeles, purchased the California Tuna Canning Company, and renamed it the Van Camp Sea Food Company.
In the early 1900s, tuna fishermen used to refer to white albacore as "chicken of the sea" because its mild flavour and light colour reminded them of chicken. The company adopted this as its advertising slogan in the 1950s, and it proved so successful that the company changed its name to match. The company's iconic mermaid mascot, Catalina, was introduced at around the same time and has been a beloved part of the brand ever since.
In 1963, the Van Camp Seafood Company was purchased by Ralston Purina. In 1988, Ralston sold its Van Camp division to an Indonesian corporation, PT Mantrust, which ran into financial problems. In 1997, PT Mantrust sold Chicken of the Sea to Thai Union Frozen Products, Tri-Marine International, and Caribbean Marine owner Edmund Gann for $97 million. Thai Union Frozen Products then bought out its partners in 2000, becoming the sole owner of Chicken of the Sea.
Chicken of the Sea has been accused by Greenpeace of serious human rights and environmental abuses, and of failing to offer any sustainable and ethical products to consumers.
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Tuna fishermen's nickname for white albacore
The nickname "chicken of the sea" for white albacore tuna is derived from its mild flavour and light-coloured flesh, which fishermen in the early 1900s likened to chicken. This nickname became the brand name for a major US tuna company, Chicken of the Sea, which was founded in the early 1900s and adopted the advertising slogan "Chicken of the Sea" in the 1950s. The company's iconic mermaid mascot, Catalina, was introduced in the 1950s and remains a beloved part of the brand.
Albacore tuna, also known as longfin tuna, is a highly migratory species found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide. It is the only species that can be marketed as "white meat tuna" due to its light flesh colour, setting it apart from other types of tuna. Albacore is the second most canned variety of tuna in the US, constituting around 20% of the market. It is also known for its larger chunks and meat that holds together well, making it suitable for grilling.
However, albacore tuna has higher mercury levels than other types of tuna, such as skipjack, which is the most commonly canned tuna variety. As a result, organisations like the Environmental Defense Fund recommend limiting the consumption of albacore. Despite this concern, albacore remains economically significant, contributing significantly to the gross domestic product of various Pacific nations.
In conclusion, the nickname "chicken of the sea" for white albacore tuna stems from its mild flavour and light colour, reminiscent of chicken to early 20th-century fishermen. This nickname not only inspired the brand name Chicken of the Sea but also contributed to albacore's unique position as the only species marketed as "white meat tuna". While albacore is a popular canned tuna variety, its higher mercury levels are a factor for consumers to consider.
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Environmental and labour abuse allegations
Chicken of the Sea, one of the largest tuna brands in the US, has been criticised for its record of human rights abuses and environmental destruction. Greenpeace has confronted the company, demanding that it address environmental and labour abuse in its supply chains.
The company has been accused of offering no sustainable and ethical products to US consumers, with its parent company, Thai Union Group, repeatedly linked to human rights and environmental abuses worldwide. Greenpeace has called on Chicken of the Sea to step up as an industry leader and ensure its products meet the standards it claims to support.
In response, Chicken of the Sea has highlighted its sustainability plan, SeaChange®, which outlines solutions for both people and the planet. Thai Union, the parent company, ranks in the top 1% of the world's most sustainable food companies. They have also stated that they are working to advance a healthier world through initiatives that deliver critical resources to those in need and are expanding their efforts to restore and preserve ocean, land, plant, and animal resources.
However, Greenpeace has pointed out that the major US brands are lagging behind, and that it is necessary to put pressure on the world's largest tuna company and its number one brand to make serious changes in its supply chain. They have also noted that fishing vessels use methods that wreak havoc on marine life, and that tuna is often stored in the same shipping containers as dirty fuel, which is then sold to consumers.
Greenpeace has also called on big corporations to reduce their plastic footprint, as plastic pollution is devastating ocean life. They have highlighted that human activity is disrupting marine ecosystems and compromising the food security and livelihoods of fishing communities.
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The company's headquarters
Chicken of the Sea is a packager and provider of seafood, owned by the Thai Union Group in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The company was founded in the United States when Frank Van Camp's son, Gilbert Van Camp, moved to San Pedro, Los Angeles, in 1914 and purchased the California Tuna Canning Company, changing the name to the Van Camp Sea Food Company. In 1963, the Van Camp Seafood Company was purchased by Ralston Purina. In 1988, Ralston sold its Van Camp division to an Indonesian corporation, PT Mantrust, which faced financial problems.
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 of the company. Chicken of the Sea International and Tri-Union International LLC merged into one company, still called Chicken of the Sea International.
Chicken of the Sea's headquarters were moved from San Diego to El Segundo, California, in May 2018. The company has provided an official explanation for the name of their product, stating that, in earlier times, fishermen referred to white albacore tuna as "chicken of the sea" due to its white colour and mild flavour, which reminded them of chicken. The founder of the company thought "chicken of the sea" would be a unique name for a brand of tuna.
Chicken of the Sea is one of the largest tuna brands in the United States, and its parent company, Thai Union Group, is the world's largest canned tuna company. Greenpeace has targeted the brand and its parent company, urging them to address environmental and labour abuse in their supply chains.
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The brand's advertising mascot
Chicken of the Sea is a brand name for a packager and provider of seafood, owned by the Thai Union Group. The brand is attached to canned tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, and sardines.
The name "Chicken of the Sea" was devised as a way to describe the taste of white albacore tuna, which fishermen in the early 1900s compared to chicken due to its mild flavour and light colour. The phrase was adopted as an advertising slogan in the 1950s and became so successful that it was eventually used as the company name.
The company was founded in the United States when Gilbert Van Camp moved to San Pedro, Los Angeles, in 1914 and purchased the California Tuna Canning Company, renaming it the Van Camp Sea Food Company. In 1963, the company was purchased by Ralston Purina, and in 1988, Ralston sold its Van Camp division to an Indonesian corporation, PT Mantrust.
Chicken of the Sea is one of the largest tuna brands in the United States and is known for its iconic mermaid mascot, Catalina, who has been a beloved part of the brand since her debut in the 1950s.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken of the Sea is owned by the Thai Union Group, which is the world's largest canned tuna company.
In the early 1900s, tuna fishermen used to refer to white albacore as "chicken of the sea" because of its white colour and mild flavour reminded them of chicken.
Chicken of the Sea was founded in the United States when Frank Van Camp's son, Gilbert Van Camp, moved to San Pedro, Los Angeles, in 1914 and purchased the California Tuna Canning Company, changing the name to the Van Camp Sea Food Company.
