Today we’re speaking with Adam Caslow, Managing Partner and Owner of Acme Smoked Fish Corp., the largest producer of smoked salmon in North America and a trusted partner to leading foodservice operators and retailers nationwide. Operating in a category defined by variability of inputs, perishableness, and tight production timelines, Acme has invested in systems that bring greater visibility to sourcing, production, and customer ordering. At Atwix, we work with manufacturers building modern eCommerce and ERP solutions, so we were eager to learn from Acme’s experience. We spoke with Adam about how digital transformation is helping connect these moving parts in a way that supports consistent, high-quality outcomes.
Q: Digital transformation can mean a lot of things. What does it look like in a seafood business like yours?
A: In seafood, the biggest challenge is consistency. The raw material can vary, storage time is tight, and output turnaround is critical. So, the focus for us has been building better visibility into what’s coming in and how it moves through production. When we can see that clearly, maintaining awareness at every step within the chain-of-custody, we can adjust in real time and keep the quality where it needs to be. The operational systems and technologies we’ve built are there to support these high-touch processes, without replacing the all-important human element necessary in maintaining the highest standards.
Q: How has traceability and sourcing transparency played into that?
A: Traceability helps solve two things at once. Customers want transparency, but for us it’s really about control. If we can track a product from source through processing, we can protect quality at every step and react quickly if something changes. That’s especially important in value added, ready-to-eat seafood, where small differences at the start can affect the finished product.
Q: Where does data come into play in maintaining that level of quality?
A: The challenge is that a lot of decisions used to rely on feel. That still matters, but now we pair it with data. Tracking yield, throughput, and material inputs are critical to maintaining quality, as well as profitability. All of this gives us a clearer picture of what’s happening in production, and what needs to happen to continuously improve. It helps us stay consistent from batch to batch and find areas where we can improve without compromising the product.
Q: You’ve introduced a B2B ordering platform on Shopify. How does that connect back to quality?
A: Ordering errors can create quality issues just as much as production problems. If the wrong item goes out or something is miscommunicated, it affects the customer experience. The platform gives customers a way to place orders clearly, accurately, and – most importantly – autonomously on their own schedule. This offers us and the customer an added layer of confidence that we’re meeting our customers at their needs. When we take on digital transformation projects such as this, consistency is always our first consideration. The platform integrates with our ERP system so inventory and orders stay synchronized in real-time.
Q: That sounds like a case where systems need to reflect real-world workflows.
A: Exactly. In our business, there isn’t much room for error. The systems must match how people order, produce, and deliver. When they do, everything runs more smoothly, and the result is a better product and experience for the customer.
Q: How are you approaching digital growth on the consumer side, particularly with retail media and platforms like Instacart?
A: The challenge there is that customers are often encountering your product for the first time online. So, accuracy matters. We’ve focused on making sure our product information, images, and descriptions are consistent across those platforms. That way, when someone buys our product, they know exactly what they’re getting. Retail media helps with visibility, but the product and how it’s presented on a retailer’s product display page must back that up.
Q: Looking ahead, where do you see the biggest opportunity?
A: It’s continuing to connect all elements of our operation more tightly, more seamlessly. The better we can link sourcing, production, and ordering, the more consistent we can be. At the end of the day, all of this comes back to delivering a product that meets our standards every time. The technology we build or put in place is just there to help us do that reliably as we grow.