SAN DIEGO, CA, April 28, 2003 – Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet Solid White Albacore, a new, superior grade of canned albacore tuna and the most premium product of its kind available to consumers under the Bumble Bee brand, is gaining popularity among consumers in early phases of introduction.

Launched initially along the East Coast from Maine to Florida, and in other select locations where there is recognized high concentration of albacore consumers, Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet is showing encouraging signs of consumer appeal since hitting supermarket shelves during the first week of March.

Produced by San Diego-headquartered Bumble Bee Seafoods, L.P., the leading canned albacore producer in the U.S., new gourmet-style Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet consists of the finest grade of hand-selected solid white albacore packed only in water.

During March, tasting events for Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet were hosted at popular East Coast eateries – Zaftigs Delicatessen in Boston, MA, and Perricone’s Marketplace & Café in Miami, FL, where patrons and guests flocked to sample the new gourmet version of America’s favorite canned albacore.

"We believe consumers are particularly receptive to Bumble Bee’s gourmet canned tuna, a concept that’s regaining popularity across the U.S., because we provide a superior and unique product in Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet that also is affordable," said Christopher D. Lischewski, president and CEO of Bumble Bee Seafoods. "Top food trends indicate too that consumers are increasingly looking to nutritious, high-quality alternatives to convenience food and Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet meets this need."

Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet is rich in protein, providing many of the same health benefits as fresh fish. With only 70 calories per serving, the product also is high in Vitamin B.

According to Lischewski, the product is unparalleled in the market. "There are various tuna products that are labeled ‘packed in water,’ but in actuality they contain a combination of water and vegetable broth as a flavor enhancer. Because Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet contains only the finest grade of albacore, water and a little salt, it doesn’t need to be flavored with vegetable broth. With the absence of vegetable broth, consumers are assured of more tuna packed into every can."

Lischewski explained that the unique high-gloss gold and black can helps to differentiate Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet on supermarket shelves. "We purposely adopted the European-style can, which is actually upside down, with lithographic printing directly on the can, not a wrapped label," he noted. "This style of packaging supports the product’s ‘premium gold’ quality and positioning. In a sense, it denotes how Bumble Bee, is turning the tuna industry upside down to the benefit of the consumer."

Perricone’s Baby Artichoke Bottoms with Prime Fillet Albacore
As prepared by Executive Chef Melvin Colindres, Perricone’s Marketplace & Café, Miami, FL

1 – 6 oz can of Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet Solid White Albacore, drained
6 artichoke bottoms (canned)

2 tbsp virgin olive oil
1 tbsp capers
1 whole minced shallot
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup crispy bread crumbs seasoned with chopped parsley and 2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 300ºF. In a mixing bowl, combine the tuna, olive oil, shallots, salt and pepper. Stuff the artichoke bottom with the tuna mixture. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the top. Cook in oven for 7 minutes.

Zaftigs Delicatessen’s Salad Niçoise
As prepared by Executive Chef Lisa Hicks, Zaftigs Delicatessen, Boston, MA

Lemon Vinaigrette:

3/4 cup Vidalia onions, minced
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 cup cider vinegar
1 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup scallions, sliced thin
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 pint olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine onions, garlic, vinegars, scallions and lemon juice in a food processor. Mix well. Slowly add olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Nicoise Salad:
Serves 6
Salad greens
6 boiled red potatoes, quartered
2 dz. marinated artichoke hearts, halved
1 lb green beans, blanched
1-1/2 cups kalamata olives
6 hearts of palm, halved
1 bunch of scallions, tops only, sliced thin
1 pint grape tomatoes
4–6 oz cans of Bumble Bee® Prime Fillet Solid White Albacore, drained
6 lemon wedges

Toss salad greens with the lemon vinaigrette. Place on six plates. Build the salad, starting at the base with 1 potato, 4 artichoke hearts, 6-8 green beans, 6-8 kalamata olives, 1 heart of palm, 1 hardboiled egg and grape tomatoes. Place 4 oz tuna in the center of each salad. Garnish with scallions and lemon wedges.

San Diego-headquartered Bumble Bee Seafoods, L.P. is the leading full-line branded canned seafood company in North America. Bumble Bee’s brands have established significant consumer awareness and loyalty based on the superior quality of their seafood products.

Bumble Bee is the producer of the number one brand of canned albacore tuna and salmon in the U.S. under the Bumble Bee label, and is the nation’s leading supplier of canned specialty seafood. Bumble Bee also produces the number one brand of canned seafood in Canada under the Clover Leaf label. For more information on Bumble Bee, visit us at www.bumblebee.com