In a clamshell, we are a seafood operation that processes Atlantic bar clams. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, there were any number of fish and shellfish we could have chosen to process, but we chose bar clams partially because we saw a niche we could fill, but mostly because we were eager to share their phenomenal taste far and wide.
It all started back in 2013. David was at home one day opening bar clams for someone else, something he seemed to be doing more and more of. As he had long dreamed of running his own business, he thought: “We could make a business of bar clams!” When he shared his idea with Carla, she instantly agreed.
From there, the idea took off! Within weeks (days? months?), we were selling raw bar clam meat out of an 800 square foot shed on their property. Between us, working full out, we were producing 10 tubs of bar clams a day.
Before long, we realized that many people just didn’t know how to properly cook the bar clams – and they can be a little tough if not cooked properly. That’s when we had our next great idea! In addition to the raw clam meat, let’s make cooked products available for those who don’t want to cook their own. Since Carla had been cooking and serving bar clam dishes to her family and friends her whole life, coming up with products was easy.
By December 2014, newly minted Annand Clams started selling raw clam meat as well as bottled and breaded bar clams, produced in our new 8,000 square foot facility. With our increased capacity, we now process 60 tubs of Atlantic bar clams by noon each day. And we have since started producing tarts, bar clams on the half shell, chowder and fishcakes.
Despite our growth, our attention to quality remains steadfast – so much so that we continue with small-batch processing to ensure consistency and to avoid over treating the clams so the taste you experience is exactly what nature intended.
Chefs and consumers are looking for exciting new products and Atlantic bar clams deliver a healthy source of protein as well as incredible taste. We are pleased to contribute to Prince Edward Island’s food culture, cementing our province’s reputation for delivering premium food products.
We have a wonderful picture, hanging in the office, of our four-month-old grandson, wearing a hair net and primed to join the processing line. While we really don’t start them that young, our business truly is all about family, both our own family, including sons Cory, Nicholas and Clark, and our family of employees who take pride in our products and care about our customers as much as we do.