« July 2006 Table of Contents 
Editor's Note: Looking back on 25 years
By Fiona Robinson, Editor in Chief
July 01, 2006
Whether you're publishing a monthly magazine or managing a
processing line at a seafood plant, turning out a product on a
routine basis can make you lose sight of the big picture. I
often get so involved planning future issues of SFB that I
forget to review past issues. The SeaFood Business anniversary
feature on page 24 gave me the opportunity to look at how both
the industry and the magazine have changed in 25 years.
Industry old-timers and newcomers alike will enjoy reviewing
two-plus decades of trends that have shaped the seafood
industry, including the rise and fall of several domestic
fisheries, dramatic changes in marketing and a mounting influx
of imported seafood.
Some of the top restaurants on the chain scene - like Red
Lobster and Long John Silver's - are still around and going
strong. But who could have predicted 20 years ago that seafood
would be the driving force in the casual-dining category?
"Buyer Focus: Casual Dining," this issue's Top Story by
Associate Editor Steven Hedlund, shows the competitive
restaurant scene and some of the up-and-coming chains that are
focusing on seafood.
SeaFood Business has also undergone some dramatic changes
over the years, as you'll see documented in the 25th
anniversary feature. Technology has altered the way SFB is
reported and printed, allowing us to add timely features and
departments like the Retail Report in our monthly Market Report
section (see page 15). The Perishables Group of Chicago
analyzes seafood-department sales data from supermarket chains
nationwide. Both retailers and their suppliers can use this
data to plan their purchases. It's this type of actionable
information that SFB has strived to provide readers with since
Day One.
I look forward to providing seafood buyers with another 25
years of news and analysis, and as always, I welcome your
thoughts.