Our Heritage

John R. Shaw Sr. overlooking the crab picking operation, circa 1940

What’s our recipe for success? Well, part of it is having a history that dates back to the 1800s. Back then, the Shaw family could be found on the waterways of Southern New Jersey working as watermen, fishermen and boat builders.

As the 19th Century turned to the 20th, Shaws were still busy working those same waters. One of those men was H.W. Shaw, proud captain of a 118 foot skipjack oyster dredger named The Oysterman. While H.W. Shaw certainly must have loved his work, he believed there was a great opportunity for his family in Florida. So H.W. Shaw and Flossie Russell Shaw made the pioneering decision to journey to the Sunshine State.

That’s when the story of our company truly begins.

In 1934 Captain H. W. Shaw and Flossie Russell Shaw opened the very first crab plant in Apalachicola, Florida. Shortly thereafter, the plant relocated to Jacksonville. That same year, John R. Shaw Sr. and Pheenix Shaw opened Florida’s second crab plant. That small, independent crabmeat company was located in the very spot we are today.

In the decades that followed, Shaw’s Southern Belle has dramatically expanded and diversified. We’re now a state-of-the-art processing facility with global capabilities. Yet our commitment to quality, consistency and innovation hasn’t changed a bit.

Quality

There’s good, there’s great, and then there’s Shaw’s Southern Belle. We deliver higher quality not because we have to but because it’s our passion. Providing quality seafood is practically in our DNA. It has been dating back to the 19th Century. We specify premium brand ingredients. We maintain our own test kitchen and laboratory for product development, quality assurance and ingredient specification. Inspections and product presentations for our customers are all conducted by qualified personnel. Our Microbiologist conducts analysis on incoming raw materials and finished products for the production environment on a daily basis.

Consistency

Having products you can rely on is another tradition we proudly carry from the past to today. Those products stay consistent year after year, decade after decade, which keeps customers going back for as long as we’ve been in business. At Shaw’s we like to say, we’re not just consistent, we’re consistently amazing.

Innovation

We’re always fishing for new ideas. No matter what your need, chances are we have the perfect solution. Contrary to common belief, innovation isn’t just about technology. It’s actually more about a commitment. It’s a promise to deliver for customers in new and exciting ways year in and year out.

Now, back to our story…

Today, you can find John and Pheenix’s proud decedents – Howard, Johnny, Sylvia, Marcia, Bubba, John III and Sylvia Sherrill, still working at our original location, alongside the scenic Trout River in Jacksonville, Florida.

Shaw’s Southern Belle is one of the largest specialty seafood packers in the country. Yet it doesn’t matter if we’re helping the world’s largest restaurant chains with a massive product launch or helping a mom please her family with a wholesome dinner found at the corner grocery, you can always count on us to come through.

Shaw’s Southern Belle is unique in that we offer completely cutting-edge services with an old-fashioned way of doing business. While larger companies must maintain a cookie-cutter approach to meeting needs, we pride ourselves on being able to offer customized solutions to each and every customer. From the initial R&D to the final packaging, we have a tailored solution just for you. Call us now to learn more and make a little history of your own.