Southwind Foods has opened a new state-of-the-art processing and distribution facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, creating 35 new jobs and investing $30 million in the local economy.

The family-owned and operated company, based in Carson, California, has over 5,000 customers nationwide but, with its new facility, is looking to serve over 1,000 customers across the Intermountain Region, including Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico.

CEO Sam Galletti previously told Undercurrent News that the company was planning to open its skin-pack expansion in Salt Lake City to supply the US Intermountain Region. Initially 10,000 square feet, the facility has grown to 40,000 square feet.

In the Intermountain Region, "shoppers are looking for better seafood options; their consumption is growing," Galletti explained. "We want to have the opportunity to serve that."

Southwind, which trades as Great American Seafood Imports Co. and has been in business for 25 years, added in its latest press release that the strategic location will "help reduce food costs" for customers and end consumers through things like increased shelf life and reduced spoilage; as well as a reduction in packaging waste; significant decrease in CO2 emissions through streamlined transportation; local production of products in high demand; and greater product selection for consumers. 

The new plant comes with high hopes as the company aims to get past $600 million in turnover and 120m pounds of product volume by the end of the year. Turnover and volume fell about 10% in 2023 due to "various pain points" that hit the seafood sector.