How a Sardine Gets From the Ocean to a Can
Summary
Odd Lots hosts Tracy Alloway and Joe Weisenthal interview Becca Milstein, CEO of Fishwife, about the global sardine shortage and the premium canned fish market. They discuss Morocco’s export ban, climate impacts on fish stocks, and the complex supply chains of European canneries. The episode explores how Fishwife built its brand by elevating canned fish from a commodity to a high-end product, navigating supply constraints, and adapting to surging consumer demand.
Topics discussed
Intro: Fish preferences and the global sardine shortage
Becca Milstein's background and Fishwife's origin story
The supply chain: From Cantabrian anchovies to canning
Sourcing challenges: US vs. European canneries
Scaling production and managing demand planning
The decline of US canneries and the Moroccan export ban
Surging sardine demand and the DTC business model
Climate change impacts on fish stocks and sustainability
Future pricing trends and consumer behavior shifts
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