Acme Smoked Fish Corp.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Seafood, Food processing |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Founder | Harry Brownstein |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, New York City , United States |
Area served | North America, Chile, Denmark |
Key people | Adam Caslow, David Caslow, Emily Caslow |
| Products | Smoked salmon, pickled herring, smoked seafood |
| Owner | Brownstein/Caslow family |
Acme Smoked Fish Corp. stands as the leading producer of smoked salmon in North America, also offering a range of pickled herring and other smoked seafood items. This family-owned, privately operated business maintains production sites across New York City, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Florida, Chile, and Denmark. Since 1954, its headquarters have been located in Brooklyn's Greenpoint area, where Acme has sustained a significant role in the seafood sector while prioritizing the growth of its international operations.
History
Established in 1906 by Russian immigrant Harry Brownstein, Acme initially operated as a smoked fish seller in Brooklyn before securing a fixed establishment during the 1930s. Rubin Caslow became part of the company through marriage in 1941, and the business was formally incorporated in 1954 at its present Brooklyn location. After a devastating fire in 1966 destroyed the Brooklyn facility, the company rebuilt and broadened its product line to include pickled herring.
Leadership transitioned to Brownstein’s sons Joseph and Morton along with son-in-law Rubin Caslow following Harry Brownstein’s passing in 1969. The Brooklyn plant was expanded in 1975 to cover an entire city block. During the 1970s, third-generation family members Robert and Eric Caslow entered management roles, and in 1978 Acme introduced its first commercially packaged smoked salmon products targeting consumers.
Acme’s initial acquisition occurred in 2007 with the purchase of Great American Smoked Fish located in Florida, which led to the creation of Acme Smoked Fish of Florida LLC serving as a regional distribution hub. In 2015, the company inaugurated the largest smoked salmon production facility in the United States situated in Wilmington, North Carolina, alongside launching its multinational branch Acme Chile based in Puerto Montt. Additional acquisitions included Spence & Co. Ltd. from Massachusetts in 2019 and acquiring a controlling interest in Denmark’s Norlax A/S in 2020.
Currently under the direction of fourth-generation family members Adam, David, and Emily Caslow, Acme Smoked Fish continues to enhance its market presence and expand globally through strategic leadership and targeted acquisitions within the seafood industry.
In Popular Culture
In 2018, Acme Smoked Fish partnered with Zucker's Bagels from New York City to assemble a massive sandwich weighing 213 pounds that combined bagels, cream cheese, and smoked salmon. This notable promotional event attracted coverage on Inside Edition, although it did not receive official world record status from Guinness World Records.