The acquisition preserves the Seattle Fish legacy while immediately providing additional resources to allow for future growth plans.
(Denver, CO; November 15, 2021) – Today, Armand Agra, A Founders Company, and a third-generation family-owned business announces the November 15th purchase of Seattle Fish Company. Armand Agra, along with the Flocchini Family and Founders Group of Food Companies, is committed to help grow the SFC business while maintaining its employees, including Derek Figueroa as President and Chief Executive Officer, Pete McClure as Chief Financial Officer and Hamish Walker as Chief Operating Officer.
For 103 years, Seattle Fish Company has been owned by the Iacino family. Mose Iacino founded Seattle Fish Company in 1918, at the age of 16, packing fresh fish in sawdust and ice to be shipped by railcar from Seattle and sold in Downtown Denver to local chefs and families. In 2019, James Iacino, grandson of Mose Iacino and former CEO of Seattle Fish Company, stepped down from his role in daily operations to focus on a political career, naming Derek Figueroa as CEO & President. However, James and his family have now decided to permanently focus on new ventures.
Though many years have passed, the mission of Seattle Fish remains the same – bringing fresh and frozen seafood to Colorado (and the greater Rocky Mountain region) and sustainably feeding people.
The company plans to retain 100% of their employees and there will be no changes to the Leadership or Executive team. Though the ownership will change from one family-owned business to another, the company’s values will remain steadfast – customer excellence, quality, sustainability, family and philanthropy.
Armand Agra, a Founders Company, also owns the Durham Ranch brand of sustainable meat, Sierra Meat, MacDonald Meat Co., and Flocchini Family Provisions. Seattle Fish Company intends to collaborate within this new family of operating companies to offer more products, like high-quality sustainable meats, in the future.
“We’ve been building Armand Agra together with Chris Flocchini and Flocchini Family Holdings since 2017, and we are delighted to see Seattle Fish Company as well as Derek Figueroa and his team join our group,” commented Richard Harris, Partner at Founders Group of Food Companies and Executive Chairman of Armand Agra. “This investment is significant and increases the size and scale of Armand Agra by more than two times since our initial investment in Sierra Meat & Seafood four years ago. Together with Founders’ very recent investment in Walt’s Wholesale Meats, this transaction sees Founders go even deeper into specialty protein and our building of a large portfolio through our Purewater Foods platform, which will be our primary focus going forward.”
Chris Flocchini, Vice Chair of Armand Agra, said, “Our goal is to become the most sought-after branded specialty protein experience in North America. Seattle Fish helps us move towards this goal by adding tremendous expertise in the seafood category and a strong presence in the Rocky Mountain region, serving both retail and foodservice.” Matt Ellis, President & CFO of Armand Agra, added, “I am delighted to see another great business with a long history and a record of serving customers with passion and excellence join us. Derek Figueroa, his team, and their business are an important addition to Armand Agra.”
“The investment by Armand Agra preserves the rich legacy of Seattle Fish while providing the resources, collaboration, and scale to grow our brand”, says Figueroa. “For over 103 years, Seattle Fish Company has engaged with our partners to provide high quality seafood throughout the mid-west. I look forward to working with Armand Agra and our employees to deliver on our Leadership Aspiration to Lead the Growth of Sustainable Seafood Consumption. Our commitment will be to continue the legacy started by the Iacino family, led and fed by our entire team, into the future.”
About Seattle Fish Company
Seattle Fish Company is a third-generation family-owned company and Colorado-based business, proudly serving the Rocky Mountain region and surrounding states for over a century. Recognized for playing a major role in making fresh seafood available in the Rocky Mountain region, Seattle Fish Company transports and distributes sustainable seafood and gourmet provisions daily from around the world, providing products of the highest quality to over 1,400 restaurants and retailers. Seattle Fish Co. is dedicated to fostering sustainable fishing practices, including supporting local aquaculture farms, as well as fishery improvement projects around the world, ensuring that seafood as a healthful protein is available for all, for generations to come. For more information, please visit Seattle Fish Company’s website at
www.seattlefish.com.
About Armand Agra
Armand Agra, with its affiliated entities and brands, Sierra Meat & Seafood, Flocchini Family Provisions, Durham Ranch and now Seattle Fish Company, supplies specialty meat and seafood across the United States and Asia. Armand Agra is owned by the Flocchini Family and Founders Group of Food Companies Inc. (“Founders”). Founders is a Canadian, family-owned business that invests its own capital and applies operating know-how to build a group of thriving food businesses and exceptional partnerships.
About Founders
Founders Group of Food Companies is a family-owned company funded by the Senft and Harris families since 2014 that invests its own capital and applies operating know-how, to build a group of closely-related, thriving food businesses and exceptional partnerships we can all be proud of: www.foundersfoodgroup.com. Tricor Pacific Capital is the family office of the Senft family: www.tricorpacific.com. Saville House Holdings is the family company of Richard & Ailsa Harris: www.savillehouse.com. Flocchini Family Holdings is the Flocchini family office led by Armando & Chris Flocchini.