Readers may remember a couple of articles in this newsletter about the business of food over the past year, authored by Marion Owen of Kodiak. What follows is a short profile with links to her business and products. Kodiak may not be the international business hub of Hong Kong or Dubai, but through her own broadcast radio show, blog, newsletter and catalog, she conducts her business, PlanTea, Inc. worldwide.  Now she seeks to collaborate with others on sustainable local food sources in Alaska.

Three Bears Alaska has a new store in Butte, Montana to add to its already successful Alaskan grocery stores in Tok, Seward, Valdez, Kenai and Mat-Su; Like Alaska Silk Pie's below, Three Bears had a modest beginning, but built a sound business to serve its growing Alaskan clientele, as well as new clients in the lower 48 states.

We think this is one of the most exciting business propositions to occur in Alaska, in terms of new thought, new technologies and alternative solutions to fish waste. We originally published information Alaska Protein Recovery in May 2005 and here is an update.

We're regularly asked about financing resources that really work.  Gary is one of those prized among our international network of resources. Gary Mendell, President of Meridian Finance, visited Alaska to speak to businesses about utilizing credit insurance as one form of extending credit terms to buyers nearly 10 years ago. His firm has further expanded since his original visit and he welcomes dialog with those looking at their international financing needs for 2007 and beyond.

It should have been apparent to me this year at the Great Alaska Beer And Barley Wine Festival. I walked through the door on opening minute, opening day and it was quiet. There were throngs of beer enthusiasts coming through the doors, but they all disappeared once inside.  Apparently they were veterans of the show and connoisseurs of Alaska's finest, because I found them in long lines, in the far aisle that was a complete mall of Alaskan breweries.  Yet it wasn't until I spoke with Ben Millstein of Kodiak Island Brewing Company, that I realized that beer, very definitely is food and it is creating a cadre of expertise in Alaska that should be tapped.

Kodiak Island's Brand Launches Career In Film

What do a film maker, 3000 Kodiak Brown Bears and a new Alaska seafood brand have in common? Quite a bit. Read on to learn how Kodiak is developing its own form of agritourism.

Unalaska is strategically located on the Great Circle route for shipping between Asia and North America. Located on the Bering Sea cost of the Aleutian Chain of Alaska, Unalaska is 800 miles southwest of Anchorage and reached only via air or vessel.

Shirley Marquardt appears to be constantly on the move taking care of business. This city's mayor has made her life's work on this remote Alaska island, in the midst of major international trade lanes and a global business of seafood. The ever-evolving Unalaska requires an intelligent, passionate energy to maintain a global competitive advantage and every day Mayor Marquardt demonstrates these characteristics.

Ken Doris and John Nordin walked into their new processing business, Harbor Crown Seafoods, each with 18+ years of experience in processing Alaska seafood from the Bering Sea in Unalaska.  Each had been supervisors with other plants on Unalaska and, as a result, they were each comfortable with the business of seafood and the international environment of Unalaska's industry.   A plant now offered them opportunities to build their own business.  

Fisherman's Express is a primary processor of Alaska seafood. They direct market their products to consumers and small restaurants almost exclusively via the internet. Cade Smith, owner of Fisherman's Express, has built his business to integrate the best of technology and Alaska's seafood to create a real-time solution for consumers that goes beyond the conventional web-based storefront.