Silver lining in company’s oyster sales

UNEXPECTED opportunities and new overseas markets are opening up out of the coronavirus pandemic for Tasmanian businesses like Tas Prime Oysters.

The local seafood operator is developing a new line of frozen oysters that can be packaged up and sold in supermarkets, as the costs of shipping products overseas rises during the crisis.

The new product is part of a wave of innovation from Tasmanian businesses, which have had to drastically alter their business strategies during the outbreak.

“I’ve always believed in the theory of when one door closes, another one opens,” manager Jane Kenane said, although she joked coronavirus had been more like the door slamming shut.

The company had previously sold its premium oysters mostly into the wholesale market in Australia, as well as Hong Kong and Japan.

Its usual markets have essentially collapsed for the moment, but others are emerging as new opportunities, including Vietnam and Thailand.

“Hong Kong is the main market at the moment, we’re having great success there,” Ms Kenane said.

“Singapore has also popped up with interest. We’re still negotiating there.”

Vietnam had been a tricky market in the past, but it had potential, she said. “We will try and get in there.”

The closure of local restaurants has also been a hit for the company.

But the setbacks prompted them to bring forward plans to develop a line of frozen oysters with different flavours to sell in supermarkets.