[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 135 (Wednesday, September 12, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S11503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING LOOK'S GOURMET FOOD COMPANY, INC.

   Ms. SNOWE. Madam President, today I celebrate the recent 
inclusion of a small business from my home State of Maine on the Inc. 
5,000 list of this Nation's fastest-growing private companies. Look's 
Gourmet Food Company, Inc., of Whiting has been a dominant player in 
the canned food industry since its inception in 1917. Notably, during 
the past 3 years, the company has grown over 200 percent, garnering the 
attention of Inc., a magazine that reports on small business and 
entrepreneurship issues. Companies on the list were ranked based on 
their percentage of revenue growth between 2003 and 2006. Moreover, all 
the firms had to be based in the United States, independent, and 
privately held. Of particular distinction is that Look's Gourmet Food 
Company placed 41st among 160 food and beverage companies subcategory. 
This is truly an honor for the State of Maine--especially for downeast 
Maine.
  When Mike Cote became the owner of the former A.M. Look Canning 
Company in April 2003, he set out to increase sales and promote a 
positive view of canned seafood. He began by changing the seafood 
processor's name to Look's Gourmet Food Company and redesigning the 
labels on the cans. Since that time, sales have tripled, and the 
company has acquired new equipment to keep up with growing demand. In 
addition, through the community development block grant program, Look's 
has purchased a warehouse in the nearby former Cutler Navy base 
dedicated to packing and shipping. A business that continues to grow, 
Look's currently employs 21 full-time workers.
  Look's Gourmet Food Company boasts a line of over 30 products 
including: whole Maine lobster meat, Maine cherrystone clams, clam 
chowder, lobster bisque, and clam juice. Look's also cans four 
varieties of beans, a traditional downeast Maine dessert known as 
Indian pudding, and more recently, has added kippers, herring, and 
mackerel to its seafood repertoire. The company produces small, 60-
gallon batches of its chowders and bisques, while refusing to use 
additives or preservatives, rendering an unrivaled product. What makes 
Look's so unique is that it is the last remaining multiproduct food 
cannery in Maine, and one of just three food canneries in the State.
  Forming unique partnerships, Look's teams up with other local 
companies to produce high-quality foods. For instance, Look's has five 
different sauces that it uses when packing its herring fillets, 
including one made using products from Raye's Mustard which is made 
locally in Eastport. Additionally, to bolster another small business, 
Look's gives discarded mussel shells to Artful Wares, a Maine 
enterprise that makes silverware handles from crushed shells, thereby 
reducing waste and ensuring Artful Wares a supply of shells.
  In listing Look's Gourmet Food on its 5,000 list, Inc. noted that 
Look's is growing due to its use of all-natural ingredients, as well as 
the sale of products in both specialty and mainstream grocery stores. 
Inc. also points to Look's export business to Japan and its desire to 
sell in Europe. This proactive business model has benefitted Look's as 
well, and the company has certainly earned the recognition it has 
received. I congratulate Mike Cote and everyone at Look's Gourmet Food 
for their exceptional achievement.

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