INTERNATIONAL TRADE : Equity, License Deals Plant Seahawk Firmly in Potato Business

Seahawk Capital Corp. has its eye on a larger share of the international potato business.

The Irvine company, through its foods division, recently bought a 68% equity interest in Scotcoast Ltd., a Glasgow, Scotland, company that makes frozen potato products. Seahawk also plans to license a process developed by Coastal Foods Financial, a Wisconsin partnership, for a new variety of potato products.

Seahawk said in a statement that it bought Scotcoast to expand operations in Eastern and Western Europe. Scotcoast distributes its frozen potato products to supermarket chains, catering companies, private labelers and restaurants. The Scottish firm has its own trade name, Bake A Tater, and expects sales of $1.2 million for its first full year of operations.

Terms of the deals were not disclosed.