Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island, today announced the 10 Island companies that will be participating in the Team Atlantic trade mission to four of the New England states in early April.
The Prince Edward Island delegation will consist of representatives from Atlantic Canada Home, Atlantic Store Decor Inc., DeltaWare Systems Inc., Fine Food Investments Ltd., Island Control Ltd., Island Quality Vegetables Inc., J. Perry Inc., Money's Mushrooms Limited, Royalty Hardwoods Ltd., and Seaman's Beverages Ltd.
"We are pleased with the diversity of the companies that are participating in this mission," said Premier Binns. "These 10 companies have demonstrated excellent potential to develop in the growing New England marketplace."
In addition to Premier Binns and the 10 Island companies, Team Atlantic will also comprise Premier Russell MacLellan of Nova Scotia, Premier Camille Thériault of New Brunswick, Premier Brian Tobin of Newfoundland and Labrador, and thirty other companies from across Atlantic Canada, 10 from each province. Prince Edward Island is taking the lead in organizing the Team Atlantic mission on behalf of the Conference of Atlantic Premiers.
The purpose of the trade mission is to establish new business partnerships, increase trade and investment, and build strategic alliances between businesses in Atlantic Canada and companies located in the New England region.
The four-day mission will begin in Boston, Massachusetts on April 11 and then travel to Burlington, Vermont; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Portland, Maine. In each location there will be appointments arranged with American firms that are potential customers for the companies travelling on the mission.
Team Atlantic is an initiative of the Conference of Atlantic Premiers and is being funded by the Canada/Atlantic Provinces COOPERATION Agreement on International Business Development, a pan-Atlantic trade agreement between the federal government — represented by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Industry Canada — and the four provincial governments.
BACKGROUNDER
ATLANTIC CANADA HOMES INC.
Atlantic Canada Homes offers a full line of residential building products including Windows, Doors, Kitchens, Mouldings, Stairs, HRV (Air Exchange), Paint, Brick, and EPS Insulation. They provide a complete set of materials and related services (design, construction and materials primarily for detached or multiple unit residential housing) for their clients in international markets. Their products and services are of high quality and offer excellent value for the money. They are committed to the international housing marketplace and interested in capital projects (including those funded by International Financial Institutions), transferring their technology, establishing a joint venture and/or in forming other kinds of strategic alliances with foreign firms.
Presently Exporting to Poland and Japan, Atlantic Canada Homes have decided to assess other countries for marketing activities. The United States, especially the New England market is targeted for its close proximity to the Atlantic Canada region. Atlantic Canada Homes would like to target Building Suppliers interested in carrying any of their products as well as Building Developers interested in complete housing packages.
Media Contact: Rob Oakie, Vice President, Operations, Tel: (902) 368-8461.
ATLANTIC STORE DECOR INC.
Atlantic Store Decor Inc. fabricates first-class high quality handcrafted display units using state-of-the-art machinery, combined with the talents of skilled craftsmen, in their 55,000 square foot manufacturing facility located in Pooles Corner, near Montague, Prince Edward Island. They specialize in wood but also use composites and have a metal fabrication shop within their plant. ASD produce custom millwork, stand-alone fixtures, showcases, and display units. Their clients include large grocery chains to small retail merchant shops and, since its establishment, Atlantic Store Decor has earned an enviable reputation for excellence in craftsmanship, reliability and fast delivery.
Atlantic Store Decor Inc. feels that their quality products can give the New England retailers a competitive edge in their market place. They would like to meet with retailers, especially large grocery store chains in the New England area, to introduce their products to this marketplace and establish a long term working relationship.
Media Contact: Deborah Mutch, Marketing Coordinator, Tel: (902) 651-8400.
DELTAWARE SYSTEMS INC.
DeltaWare Systems Inc. is an information technology consulting firm located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. DeltaWare has assembled an experienced team of consultants committed to providing leading edge technology solutions built on old-fashioned business principles -- quality, service and value. DeltaWare provides information system services and solutions to industry, business and government organizations using the latest methods and technologies. The staff of system specialists and consultants have extensive experience in information systems planning and management, technology integration and Client-Server application development specializing in PowerBuilder, Visual Basic, Delphi and Oracle.
DeltaWare is one of a few Atlantic Canadian companies that is capable of developing, implementing and supporting Client-Server applications. Their business strategy includes the development and support of Microsoft Windows compatible applications using leading edge tools, particularly PowerBuilder and Oracle. PowerBuilder is a Client-Server development environment used to support the design and implementation of Microsoft Windows applications, while Oracle is the world leader in database server applications. These features make PowerBuilder-Oracle solutions most appealing to their clients.
Media Contact: Peggy Roach Affleck, Business Development Manager, Tel: (902) 368-8122.
FINE FOOD INVESTMENTS LTD.
Fine Food Investments Ltd. has been producing and marketing the Little Christo's Original Pizzeria Pizza's since 1989. Following a 1994 expansion, the company's Meatlovers and Deluxe products are leading the meal market segment and were finalists in the Canadian new product awards. Their production facility is federally inspected and is currently working towards HACCP certification and ISO 9000 standardization. The Little Christo's frozen pizza products are extremely well received, neither looking or tasting like frozen pizza. Only the freshest vegetables, premium meats (no by-products) and an award winning mozzarella cheese are used. Their special pizza crust and Italian pizza sauce are both nutritious and delicious. In addition to their retail line, they also produce a food service gourmet line. The company is capable of creating specialty products for any market.
Fine Food Investments is currently targeting the United States and Europe for future exports. They feel the quality of their product warrants further market expansion. They would like to make some direct contacts in the New England Market who could aid them in their exporting efforts especially with Supermarket and Food Service buyers and distributors.
Media Contact: Joy Hanley, President, Tel: (902) 658-2525.
ISLAND CONTROL LIMITED
Island Control Limited is a Canadian corporation located on the East Coast of Canada. The company was established in 1974 and is engaged in the design, manufacture and service of a broad range of electrical control and distribution equipment for the marine and industrial markets. During the earlier years of operation the company specialized in control panels for pleasure craft, inshore fisheries vessels and custom control systems for Industry. The company now offers a broad range of services in original design, manufacture technical and consultant services. Their primary products manufactured are low voltage switchgear (600 v), distribution panels, motor control centres, control systems, main engine & wheelhouse control consoles, and automation systems. They specializes in custom control systems, retrofits and systems manufactured to meet specific needs. In addition they have assembled systems for the processing industry, providing automation and controls for fishing, potato, onion and blueberry processing lines. Island Control Limited believes in customer satisfaction, consistency of product and product design. With this in mind, ISO 9001 registration is being implemented
Island Control Limited distributes and promotes its products in Atlantic Canada and the Eastern Seaboard of United States via advertising, trade shows, internal sales personnel, marketing trips, etc. They would like to expand upon this by making direct contacts within the New England Market especially with boat builders, shipyards, and electrical marine supplies.
Media Contact: Eric A. Ellsworth, President, Tel: (902) 566-3555.
ISLAND QUALITY VEGETABLES INC.
Island Quality Vegetables is a private Canadian Company founded in 1998. It consists of a state of the art facility which is nestled in the rich fertile agricultural sector of Montague, Prince Edward Island. The Product line, grown by Island farmers, consists of cauliflower and broccoli that is floretted and cooled for the fresh market. They are committed and have achieved a high quality standard in their first year of production, revealing their dedication to meeting and exceeding the most stringent standards for food quality and safety.
Island Quality Vegetables are currently dealing with Carriere Foods of Quebec and Maine Packers Inc. of Caribou Maine. Although these two Companies are now purchasing 100% of their product, Island Quality Vegetables will be expanding their product base far beyond their first year production levels and will need to expand their markets and exporting activities to utilize their modern facility to capacity. They would like to meet with Vegetable and Food Processing companies.
Media Contact: Julius Patkai, General Manager, Tel: (902) 838-5566.
J. PERRY INC.
J. Perry Inc. is a new company located in Tignish, PEI and is a division of Perry Rafter Co. which has been in operation for 10 years. Their main products are Wood Cedar Gazebos as a pre-assembled kit, Wood Cedar Cabanas as a pre-assembled kit, and Folding Adirondack chairs. All of J.Perry Inc. Products are made from locally grown Eastern white cedar. The cedar is very decay resistant and can be left natural (untreated), stained, or painted to the customers preference. Eastern cedar is readily available to J. Perry Inc.
As a new company, J.Perry Inc. is looking to find medium sized distributors / wholesalers in the building supply or garden centre business for their cedar wood products. They would also look at large home builders who could use gazebos as an accessory tool. J.Perry Inc. would like to enter the New England market because of its close proximity to PEI and the population base that exists within the New England Market.
Media Contact: Herb Perry, President, Tel: (902) 880-3334.
MONEY'S MUSHROOMS LTD
Money's Mushrooms is an internationally respected brand name. It is synonymous with industry leadership for high quality products, reliable supply, excellent customer services, and a strong business organization. They care, building on the expertise and experience of the past 7 decades so that all of their ongoing dedication to excellence is focused outwards-towards serving their customers.
They offer a variety of top quality fresh and processed mushroom products in Canada, the western United States and overseas to Pacific Rim countries. Money's grows all three strains - white, cream, and brown - of the familiar field mushroom that has the greatest consumer acceptance. While fresh mushrooms account for about 60 percent of their sales, the rest are marketed as processed products.
Money's Mushrooms are currently expanding to the Eastern Seaboard and would like to market their reputable products to both Eastern Canada and the United States. They would like to sell to Supermarket and Food Service buyers and distribution operations.
Media Contact: Dean Fleming, VP, Corporate Marketing and Sales, Tel: (604) 882-7212.
ROYALTY HARDWOODS LTD.
Royalty Hardwoods Ltd. is a manufacturer of Wood Products located at Pooles Corner, Prince Edward Island. It was established in September of 1994 and is jointly owned by Martinus and Sharon Rose of Georgetown, PEI. Their main business is the production of kiln dried hardwood (maple, oak, etc.) which is either sold in the rough to other manufacturers or milled at their facility into a variety of wood products, hardwood flooring and custom milled hardwood which it sells to wood processors, local building contractors, wholesalers, retailers and clients. They also broker an increasing amount of wood products that they are unable to supply locally.
Royalty Hardwoods is looking to expand sales to building supply dealers, flooring retailers, large contracting firms with direct purchase, and furniture manufacturers. Their current market is the Maritimes, with the company actively pursuing sales in Florida. They would like to achieve sales with US Clients, as well set up long term relationships with potential clients for long term sales.
Media Contact: Martinus R. Rose, President, Tel: (902) 838-3013.
SEAMAN'S BEVERAGES LIMITED
Seaman's Beverages Limited is a manufacturer of Seaman's Classic Sodas and was created in 1939. Since then, the Seaman family has been dedicated to making truly premium sodas, the olde fashioned way. Allowing authentic family recipes to be passed down for generations, Seaman's Beverages prepare their classic flavours in small batches and glass bottles, paying close personal attention to quality using only the finest ingredients such as pure cane sugar, real fruit pulp and Island spring water. Sure, it's more expensive bottling sodas of this quality, but people all over the world appreciate the difference. Seaman's guarantee that their Classic Flavours are one of the highest quality, most refreshing line of Sodas in the world.
Having previously marketed in PEI only, focus is now on expanding markets to the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, and New England. Seaman's is currently underutilised at 37 per cent, and would like to see an increase in demand for their unique product to drive production to capacity. In order to achieve this they must meet premium beverage distributors and obtain premium beverage customers.
Media Contact: Kim Griffin, Director, International Sales & Marketing, Tel: (902) 566-4700.