7 Principles We Practice For Seafood Success

1. KNOWLEDGEABLE FISHMONGERS

It all starts with the most knowledgeable fishmongers in town, and customers who trust us to do the right thing and bring high quality, fresh seafood here locally.

2. FRESHNESS = LESS TIME SPENT OUT OF WATER

You may be asking yourself, “can you truly find great seafood in our part of the world?” It all comes down to less time spent out of water. We receive fresh shipments of seafood seven days a week thanks to our tight-knit industry relationships. We also choose air-freight to minimize that time spent out of water.

3. WE SOURCE DIRECT

We go right to the source, which gets the product to our stores quicker than most, meaning that the fish is as fresh as possible. Plus, they are fabulous people who have become part of our DLM family and they always look out for the very best. We talk to some of these people almost daily, and they bring fantastic seafood to our stores. The relationships with these small family businesses are real—we are not just an invoice number. This is a key part of our success!

4. FARM RAISED THE RIGHT WAY

Some folks think you should never eat farmed seafood. However, just like with land-based animals, there is always a better way. We made a stand many years ago by only sourcing farm-raised seafood done the right way, with similar principles practiced by our organic and “all natural” land-based farmers and ranchers taken into consideration. 

We look for low stocking densities, no antibiotics or growth promotants, and sustainability and responsibility of the resources used. There are so many certifications out there for farm-raised seafood. Know that we only deal with farm-raised seafood that meets our very high standards. 

5. WE SELL WHAT'S IN SEASON NOW

You'll notice a constant stream of new fish in our Seafood case, a true reflection of what's in season and what the freshest catch is now. This is the product of constant communication and good working relationships that our fishmongers all have with our fish providers. On any given day, our Seafood managers have likely been on the phone with several different providers to see what's biting. This ensures that our case is a true reflection of what's fresh and in season now. 

6. QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION

DLM realized many years ago that we needed to source the very best products for our customers. At the time, most seafood sold was frozen or whatever distributors in Ohio wanted to sell you. The first step was to teach our seafood specialists all about fresh seafood. What to look for, how to handle it, how to display it, and most important, develop that passion about what they sell. This passion was contagious and it did not take long to develop trust with our customers that our seafood was truly different.

7. SCOUTING FOR THE UNIQUE

When calling our vendors, we're often asking questions like “hey, what’s new,” “what’s popular in the industry,” and of course, “how is the fi shing going?” Whether it be sourcing oyster varieties to feature that week or bringing in any number of products, these types of questions help us pick unique items. Or, sometimes these conversations unlock preparation and serving ideas. Curiosity leads us toward new finds and offerings that are truly unique.