Maine Coast receives prestigious federal award for 'export expansion'
Courtesy / U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, left, presents the President’s “E” Award to Maine Coast founder and CEO Tom Adams and his wife, Sheila, the company's vice president of sales and marketing. The award recognizes domestic companies or organizations that are making a significant contribution to export commerce. On the far right is Gilbert Kaplan, under secretary of commerce for international trade.
Maine Coast, a live lobster wholesaler based in York, is among 48 companies to receive the President’s “E” Award, the highest award given to domestic companies or organizations making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross presented the President’s “E” Award for Exports to Maine Coast founder, owner and CEO Tom Adams, and his wife, Sheila, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing, in a ceremony held in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
Maine Coast was one of 26 honorees singled out for demonstrating a sustained increase in export sales over a four-year period. American companies are nominated for “E” Awards through the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service office network, located within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Record years of successive export growth and an applicant’s demonstration of an innovative international marketing plan that led to the increase in exports is a significant factor in selecting the overall winners.
“Maine Coast has demonstrated a sustained commitment to export expansion,” Ross said in a congratulatory letter to Maine Coast. “The ‘E’ Awards Committee was very impressed with Maine Coast's efforts to sustain exports by opening new markets to lessen the impact of increased foreign tariffs in some of the company's existing markets. The company's investment in logistics facilities and processes vital to further development of its export business was also particularly notable. Maine Coast's achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the U.S. economy and create American jobs.”
In 2018, domestic exports were the highest on record with U.S. services at $821.1 billion and U.S. exports of goods reaching $1.7 trillion, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported. This year's 48 "E" Award winners hail from 25 states, with 41 being small and medium-sized businesses and 26 firms being manufacturers.
Sustained export growth
From its headquarters in York and a satellite facility on the Boston Fish Pier, Maine Coast is able to provide rapid-ship delivery worldwide via Logan Airport and specialized service to Boston and southern New England area customers as well as customers in more than 29 countries worldwide. It has holding capacity for 180,000 pounds of live lobster and employs 45 people.
The company has received numerous awards in the past few years, including 2015 U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business Exporter of the Year for Maine, 2016 Mainebiz Fastest Growing Mid-Sized Company and 2017 Inc. 5000's Fastest Growing Private Companies. Its 2016 sales were more than $50 million. Tom Adams also was honored by Mainebiz as a member of the 2016 Next List.
In 2018, The Maine International Trade Center recognized Maine Coasts efforts in the lobster industry naming it the Exporter of the Year — with MITC President Wade Merritt saying at that time, “It is no surprise that Maine Coast, a leader in lobster exports has received this award. This is a smart, nimble company that recognizes the value in strong relationships around the world in delivering one of Maine’s iconic brands and first-class quality products: Maine lobster.”
Adams said that he and his Maine Coast team were honored to receive the “E” Award for Exports.
“The company is proud to represent an iconic product recognized around the world for quality and our sustainable lobster fishery,” he said. “Maine Coast’s growth in the export market is the result of our dedicated team, their focus on the customer, and consistently delivering quality. We will continue to expand domestically, in our current export markets, and develop new customers worldwide.”
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments