While confident of achieving its marketing goals, Tri Marine International has declined to reveal “sensitive commercial information” regarding future canned tuna products to be made by its locally based Samoa Tuna Processors (STP) Inc. operation.

Trade industry Undercurrent News online reported this week that Tri Marine will begin canning skipjack tuna under Costco’s signature brand "Kirkland" and the product will be in stores next week. Costco reportedly will no longer carry the “lightmeat” tuna from Chicken of the Sea.

Based on unidentified sources, Undercurrent News also reported that the product will be first produced at Tri Maine’s processing plant in Thailand with plans to move it to STP in American Samoa once the canning section of the plant opens.

Responding to a Samoa News request for a confirmation and comment, Tri Marine’s vice president of production Dan Sullivan first pointed out that the company’s project in American Samoa continues on schedule and is expected to be in operation by January 2015.

“We are busy building up the business to maximize the capacity of Samoa Tuna Processors, and anticipate that when we do so it will bring more than 1,500 jobs to the community,” he said.

He also revealed that The Tuna Store, which is the Tri Marine Company responsible for selling the production from STP, is actively pursuing appropriate markets to sell the entire productive capacity of STP.

“While we are confident that we will achieve our marketing goals, we are unable to disclose sensitive commercial information at this time. This confidentiality is important to us and to our customers,” he said.

“As you know, the plant is still under construction and we remain committed to the American Samoan community, and look forward to the commencement of canning operations and shipments of top quality canned tuna to our customers,” he added.

In addition to STP, Tri Marine’s other local operations include a ten purse seiner fishing fleet, a cold storage facility and fresh fish export.