Cermaq is building a new processing plant in Miami that will produce skin-packs, with the facility expected to open in early 2027. The investment places the company squarely in a packaging trend that has already reshaped how seafood reaches U.S. grocery shelves.
According to Undercurrent News, the project is pegged at $30 million, while IntraFish describes the investment as exceeding $30 million — the two outlets do not agree on the precise figure. What both accounts confirm is that the plant will be located in Miami and will produce skin-packs, a packaging style that vacuum-seals fish in a thin, form-fitting film for retail display.
Why Skin-Packs Are Having a Moment
Skin-pack seafood has become the dominant style in case-ready categories across Europe and the United States, according to Harpak-ULMA Marketing and Communications Manager Aitor Castro Miguelez, who told SeafoodSource that “skin-packaging done in tray-sealing or thermoforming machines currently reigns supreme.” The same outlet reported that Harpak-ULMA Case Ready Specialist Jay Siers has observed consumers adopting skin-packed seafood faster than comparable beef and pork products, saying shoppers are showing “skin-packed seafood gaining traction faster than it is with beef and pork.”
Part of the appeal is practical. Harpak-ULMA Product Manager Hugh Crouch pointed to the limited seafood counters at many U.S. retailers, noting that “many places don't have the seafood counter,” which makes pre-packaged, case-ready seafood an easier entry point for shoppers. Case-ready packaging can also reduce waste for retailers. Castro Miguelez added that in Europe, packaging decisions are shaped heavily by sustainability pressures, saying “in Europe, we are concerned with sustainability.”
A Wider Industry Shift Toward Florida Processing
Cermaq is not alone in chasing this packaging format or Florida's seafood market. Pacific Seafood recently acquired a processing and distribution facility in Doral, Florida — a nearly 26,000-square-foot building that includes 5,930 square feet of office space across two stories, according to SeafoodSource. The company said the Doral site includes a refrigerated processing area built to handle raw materials and skin-pack processing.
On the East Coast, Massachusetts-based Channel Fish Processing has taken a similar path, launching a skin-pack production line that the outlet says expands its processing capabilities for the retail market. Channel Fish is applying the packaging to its core fresh fish lineup, including cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, ocean perch, pollock, and salmon. The format works by vacuum-sealing fish within a breathable film that preserves freshness and moisture, extending shelf life for retail buyers.
Headwinds for Cermaq's Parent Company
The Miami build-out comes as Cermaq's parent company, Mitsubishi, has signaled caution about the broader salmon market. IntraFish reported that Mitsubishi warned that salmon earnings would disappoint, a note of caution that stands alongside the company's continued investment in U.S. processing capacity.
