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KATHMANDU, July 17: Bluefin Fresh Mart - an exclusive store of seafood - is opening five new outlets in the capital within this year.
Varunee Acharya, trade consultant at Bluefin, said the company is opening its second outlet in Bhaisepati within this week and four other outlets by December. It plans to open other outlets in Bouddha, Solateemod, Lazimpat and Baluwatar.
At present, Bluefin has been selling wide range of seafood products directly imported from Thailand through its outlet in Jhamsikhel.
“We are opening new outlets because many of our customers want Bluefin to open in their localities,” said Acharya.
Besides, the company is also planning to expand its outlets outside the capital through franchise model. “We will be franchising the outlets to interested parties who want to work with us,” Acharya said, adding, “Interested parties can get Bluefin franchise by paying us Rs 3 million and providing us certain percentage of their profits.”
She further added that the company will have 24 outlets across the country within 2015. Acharya also informed that Bluefin will start selling chicken products from next year.
The store is currently selling frozen shrimp, salmon, frozen Thai lobster, red snapper, starfish, budsara fillet, tuna saku, prawn, Norwegian smoked salmon, fresh dolly fillet calamari and squid among others. Prices of these products range from Rs 66 per piece to Rs 4,300 per kg.
“We are also planning to introduce technology for aquaculture from Thailand as there is the possibility of farming red snapper in Nepal itself,” said Acharya. “If it materializes, customers will get snappers at cheaper price. It will also create employment opportunities.”
According to Acharya, all the seafood items available at Bluefin can be consumed for a year as they are frozen using Individual Quick Frozen (IQF) method. “This method freezes water inside the products and ensures long life of the products without the use of additives,” she added.
Products imported by Bluefin are kept in freezers even inside aircraft. According to Acharya, these products have received quality certification from US-based International Sustainability Foundation (ISF) Laboratory. The company claims that the products are made available to customers within 48 hours of their harvest.
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