Nanticoke SeafoodThis is an addendum to a recent article I worked on with Brice Stump. Little did we know at the time how close we were to the demise of the originator of Nanticoke Seafood., H. B. Kennerly, Jr. I attended his funeral in Nanticoke on Monday, February 22, 2010. The Eastern Shore has lost a superb entrepreneur and a giant in the seafood industry. He was also a very quiet philanthropist, donating much to his beloved Westside community and the Nanticoke Methodist Church.
Nanticoke Seafood was started in 1967 as a subsidiary of H. B. Kennerly & Son. Mr. Kennerly, Sr. had died in 1956, but his son carried on the family name in the business. The father and son had an oyster business where an empty factory is now. The main oyster house was brought up from Roaring Point in 1942. When Kennerly, Jr. sold the old tuna plant across the harbor to Coldwater Seafood, he agreed to freeze breaded oysters for Coldwater and that jump started Nanticoke Seafood. Nanticoke Seafood was formed as a subsidiary for business purposes. The freezing of breaded oysters led to the formation of a new product – fried clams. These were never sold under a specific company-owned retail brand name, but many were sold to distributors under the brand names “Ocean Chef”, “Maryland House” and “Seakove”. Along with “house sales”, many pounds were sold to popular restaurant chains such as Red Lobster, Long John Silver’s, Friendly’s, Shoney’s and Country Harvest Buffets. They never had a salesman, Mr. Kennerly making all the necessary
Mr. Kennerly sold the plant lock, stock and barrel to Consolidated Foods in 1978. This included the business, the land, the buildings, the inventory and the vehicles. They operated Nanticoke Seafood under their Booth Fisheries sub-division. This continued for seven years until they sold it the same way to SeaPak Corporation, a subsidiary of Rich Products of Buffalo, New York.
This arrangement continued for thirteen years. It was during SeaPak’s ownership that Nanticoke Seafood became the largest producer in the world of fried clam strips, a distinction the employees were extremely proud of. It was known throughout the industry that Nanticoke Seafood clam strips were top quality and many tried to duplicate them, but never could.
Over time there have been only five companies producing fried clam strips – Nanticoke Seafood, American Original, Old Salt, Seawatch and Eastern Shore Seafood. Nanticoke maintained its market share until its demise in 2005, when it was moved to Cape May, N. J. by Cape May Foods who had bought it from SeaPak in 1998. American Original and Old Salt no longer exist. Cape May bought Nanticoke Seafood. Seawatch bought Eastern Shore. So the only fried clam producer on the Eastern Shore is Seawatch in Milford, Del.
Nanticoke Seafood had the distinction of being in business for forty years and never had a losing year in a very competitive market.
Me thinks Bob Dunn sold most of them lol Do you remember that he was going to hire me??????
ReplyDeleteGreat reading, as always.
ReplyDeleteWhile we're talking seafood, has anyone looked closely at the crab meat in the stores? Perhaps you are luckier than those of us who moved away. A couple of Christmases ago, we went to the local "seafood market" in Roanoke to buy crab meat for crab dip. We purchased a couple of 1 lb tins of crab labeled, "A product of Berlin, MD." A couple of days later, when preparing to make the dip, upon opening the cans, they were full of some crappy (not the word I'd really like to use) shredded material.
ReplyDeleteUpon closer examination, the label stated as above, but in really fine print it noted "Crab a product of Indonesia". If the MD watermen want a fair shake in the market, they should hunt down the owner of this company and tar and feather him.
I was so pissed off, I decided if I couldn't get to the Shore for crab meat, we wouldn't be serving crab dip for Christmas any longer. You CAN vote with your dollar...speaking if which, I haven't set foot in that "seafood market" since.
Another very interesting article, George.
ReplyDeleteBack when I was a teen, (only a couple of years ago LOL)I worked the Kennerly tomato cannery in the summers and after guaduating from High School, the seafood plant in the winter. The Kennerly's always paid a fair wage and they were very considerate of their employees. There was a great deal of employee loyalty. Both my brothers worked the cannery along with neighbors as well. I can't say enough good about the Kennerly's. The Brice Stump article brought back lots of memories. I'm glad the article was done before his death.
ReplyDeletejack miles, owns atlantic vessels out of norfolk va. has a clam processing plant on rt 13 down below bloxom.
ReplyDeletethe green hulled boats in the oc commercial harbor are the atlantic vessels.
The Indonesian crab meat is owned by a Worcester County man named Byrd. It's been around for a long time. Cheap labor. The lump crab meat is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteMr. Kennerly was a very nice man and a spiffy dresser. When I worked in a bank about 20 years ago, he always came in dressed in a suit and tie.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember you Mr. Jack Richards , but I remember Bob Dunn , he was salesman of some sorts at Nanticoke . he wasn't there very long as I remember.
ReplyDeleteBob Dunn had some bad habits .
Thanks George for the memories.
P.S. The plant is falling apart .
Barney Truax was also a clam producer and had clam boats , he sent his son to learn the racing and is now invovled in the NASCAR ciruit (Martin Truax).
ReplyDeleteBarney went to jail for shipping tons of weed in the clam boat , the paper said in was 70,000 lbs. I just wonder how many times it happened before he got caught.
The old seafood building would be a great place for a restaurant .
ReplyDeleteThsnkd for the great article about Nanticoke Seafood & my father Harold B. Kennerly, Jr. He loved the seafood business & was always proud to be able to offer employment to so many in the community. You made me homesick for all that is Nanticoke..... From Nebraska -- Mary-Ann Kennerly Clinton
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